Etymologically
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factura

Etymology and origin of the Latin word factura

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Pliny the Elder
Ultimate origin
Latin (faciō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [fakˈtuː.ra][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [fakˈtuː.ra][1]

Forms

factūra f (genitive factūrae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from faciō “to make” with the suffix -tūra, translating Greek ⟨poiēsis⟩.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Pliny the Elder, of working metal.[2] Köbler dates Pliny the Elder 23/24–79 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the working of a metal, as in Pliny the Elder, and the make or fashion of a thing, as in Gellius.[2] Lewis & Short note it is post-Augustan and very rare, and Prudentius uses it of a work, a creature.[3][5]

In Medieval Latin it meant creation, a creature, man, and make, texture.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for making, manufacture.[7] It survives in Italian fattura and Spanish hechura, and through Anglo-French feture it gave English feature in the late 14th century, “make, bodily form”.[1][8]

Timeline

  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of metalwork.[2][4]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of make.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English feature is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A making, working.[2]
  2. Make, fashion.[2]
  3. (Christian Latin) A creature, creation.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Factura.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/factura. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·