factor
/ˈfæk.təɹ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.67 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An agent or representative; a reseller or distributor (sometimes with a private label); a consignee.
noun
noun
A person or business organization that provides money for another's new business venture; one who finances another's business.
noun
A business organization that lends money on accounts receivable or buys and collects accounts receivable.
noun
One of the elements, circumstances, or influences which contribute to produce a result.
noun
Influence; a phenomenon that affects the nature, the magnitude, and/or the timing of a consequence.
Example Sentences
- "The factor of the trading post bought the furs."
- "My factor sends me word, a merchant's fled / That owes me for a hundred tun of wine."
- "And let such as will number the Kings of Castile and Portugall amongst the warlike and magnanimous conquerors, seeke for some other adherent then my selfe, forsomuch as twelve hundred leagues from their idle residence they have made themselves masters of both Indias, onely by the conduct and direction of their factors, of whom it would be knowne whether they durst but goe and enjoy them in person."
- "What does he therefore, but resolvs to give over toyling, and to find himself out som factor, to whose care and credit he may commit the whole managing of his religious affairs; som Divine of note and estimation that must be."
- "Motor factors — Good factors will stock all of the more important components which wear out relatively quickly."
- "The greatest factor in the decision was the need for public transportation."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁kyéti Proto-Italic *θakjō Proto-Italic *fakjō Latin faciō Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin factorbor. Middle French facteurbor. ▲ Latin factorbor. Anglo-Norman factourbor. Middle English factour English factor Inherited from Middle English factour, from Middle French facteur, Anglo-Norman factour, and their etymon Latin factor (“a doer, maker, performer”), from factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈfæk.təɹ/
- British English: /ˈfæk.tə/