modus operandi
Preserved but no longer current.
The mode of operation- the way in which a thing is done or should be done. Modus vivendi (Lat., way of living). A mutual arrangement whereby persons not at the time being on friendly terms can be induced to live together in harmony. The term may be applied to individuals, to societies, or to peoples.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “modus operandi” mean?
The mode of operation- the way in which a thing is done or should be done. Modus vivendi (Lat., way of living). A mutual arrangement whereby persons not at the time being on friendly terms can be induced to live together in harmony. The term may be applied to individuals, to societies, or to peoples.
Is “modus operandi” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.