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Learn the origin, synonyms, and usage of the word factotum, which means a person who does everything or a general servant. See examples of factotum in sentences from various sources and related articles.
Factotum is a formal word for a person who does various jobs for someone else. Learn how to use it in sentences, see synonyms and antonyms, and find out how to say it in different languages.
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Factotum is a formal word for a person who does various jobs for someone else. Learn how to use it in sentences, see synonyms and antonyms, and find out how to say it in different languages.
Factotum definition: a person, as a handyman or servant, employed to do all kinds of work around the house.. See examples of FACTOTUM used in a sentence.
- English
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Etymology
From New Latin factotum (literally “do everything”), from Latin fac, present singular imperative of faciō (“do, make”) + tōtum (“everything”); attested in English from 1566.
Pronunciation
1. (UK) IPA(key): /fækˈtəʊ.təm/ 2. (US) IPA(key): /fækˈtoʊ.təm/
Noun
factotum (plural factotums or (nonstandard) factota) 1. (dated) A person having many diverse activities or responsibilities. 2. (dated) A general servant. 2.1. Synonym: do-all 2.1. 1847 March 30, Herman Melville, chapter 73, in Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas;[…], London: John Murray,[…], →OCLC: 2.1.1. I had almost forgotten Monee, the grinning old man who prepared our meal. […] He was Po-Po’s factotum—cook, butler, and climber of the bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees; and, ad...
Etymology
Possibly directly or else via French from New Latin factotum (literally “do everything”), from Latin fac, present singular imperative of faciō (“do, make”) + tōtum (“everything”); attested in Dutch from 1605.
Pronunciation
1. IPA(key): /fɑkˈtoː.tʏm/ 2. Hyphenation: fac‧to‧tum
Noun
factotum m (plural factotums, diminutive factotumpje n) 1. factotum (jack-of-all-trades)
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from New Latin factōtum.
Pronunciation
1. IPA(key): /fakˈtɔ.tum/ 2. Rhymes: -ɔtum 3. Hyphenation: fac‧tò‧tum
Noun
factotum m (invariable) 1. an individual employed to do all sorts of duties 1.1. Synonym: tuttofare 1.1. 1816, "Largo al Factotum", Il barbiere di Siviglia, Gioachino Rossini, libretto by Cesare Sterbini 1.1.1. "Largo al factotum della città, largo!" 1.1.1.1. "Make way for the factotumof the city!"
Etymology
Borrowed from French factotum, from Latin factotum.
Noun
factotum m (plural factotum) 1. factotum
Factotum is a noun meaning a person who does many things or a general servant. It comes from New Latin factotum, meaning \"do everything\". See how to say it in different languages and its historical and printing uses.
3 days ago · Factotum sounds like the two words “fact” and “totem” spliced together, but this curious noun originally comes from the Latin words that mean "do" and "everything." In current times, since servants aren’t typical anymore, we might call someone who has a paid job like this a jack-of-all-trades or possibly a personal assistant.
Learn the meaning and usage of the word factotum, a formal or humorous term for a person who does various jobs for someone else. See pronunciation, synonyms, and example sentences from Oxford University Press.