factum Latin · revision 3827

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *dʰeh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfak.tũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfak.tum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''factum''' ''n'' (genitive factī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[factus]], the perfect participle of [[facio|alt=faciō]] “to do, make”, used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Etymonline) ''Faciō'' is [[m|itc-pro|*fak-i-]], from [[ine-pro|*dʰh₁-k-|t=to make]], built on [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-|t=to put]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Naevius has “whose deeds live and flourish now”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a deed or action, and with praise or blame a great deed, an exploit, as an early epitaph's “by your deeds you surpassed the glory of your ancestors”.^(OLD 2012) As opposed to fiction it meant a real happening, a fact, a question of fact in Cicero's rhetoric.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It also meant something done, a piece of work, and in farming the quantity of olives pressed at one time, as in Varro and Columella.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) In medieval Latin it meant a grant, a deed of transfer, a matter or concern, and a farm.^(Niermeyer 1976) The Romance words, as Italian [[m|it|fatto]] and French [[m|fr|fait]], continue it.^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) English ''feat'' came from it through Anglo-French in the mid-14th century and ''fact'' was borrowed in the 1530s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of famous deeds.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of an olive pressing.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a question of fact.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''feat'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530s – English ''fact'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A deed, act, action.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[m|en|exploit]], achievement; a misdeed.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A real happening, a [[m|en|fact]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something done, a work.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The quantity of olives pressed at one time.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A grant; a [[m|en|deed]] (document); an estate.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[profectō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[facio]]

+ * [[en|fact]]

+ * [[en|feat]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein contrasts ''agere'', doing whose effect exists only in time, with ''facere'', making whose result exists in space; the ''facta'' remain after the doer stops.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}