Etymologically
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factus

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factus1 done, made

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfak.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfak.tus][1]

Forms

factus (feminine facta, neuter factum); first/second-declension participle[1]

Etymology

The adjective is the perfect passive participle of faciō “to make, do”.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨faciō⟩ to Proto-Italic *fak-i-, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁-k- (“to make”), an extension of *dʰeh₁- (“to put”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Plautus, who has the comparative in factius nīlō facit “he does no better”.[4][5] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it meant that has happened, true; already done, already made or formed, as in Cicero; and achieved, secured, as in Plautus.[2]

It survives as Italian fatto, French fait, Spanish hecho, Portuguese feito and Catalan fet.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of what has happened.[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. That has happened, true.[2]
  2. Already done, made or formed.[2]
  3. Achieved, secured.[2]

Word family

factus2 olive pressing (noun)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfak.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfak.tus][1]

Forms

factus m (genitive factūs); fourth declension[1] Varro and Columella also have a neuter factum in this sense.[6]

Etymology

The noun is from Latin faciō (“to make”) + -tus, a verbal noun of the fourth declension.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Cato's Dē agrī cultūrā, of the quantity of oil from one pressing.[4][5] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a pressing of olives, the quantity pressed at one time, as in Cato and Columella, and Varro uses it of a making, building, style of construction.[2][5][6]

In Medieval Latin it was an agricultural holding comparable to the mansus.[7]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of an olive pressing.[5][4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of building.[5][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A pressing of olives, the quantity pressed at one time.[2]
  2. A making, building, style of construction.[6][5]
  3. (Medieval Latin) An agricultural holding like a manse.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill