Factotum definition

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Forget doing it or forget to do it? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns 2. Add to word list Add to word list. He became a sort of general factotum for the band. People who serve other people. Examples of factotum.

Factotum definition

While in the past factotum could also be synonymous with meddler and busybody , the word today refers to a handy, versatile sort anyone in need of an assistant might hope for. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'factotum. Send us feedback about these examples. Martin Luther uses fac totum in the non-personal sense "that which does everything" in his commentary on Galatians : "Est igitur fides fac totum ut ita loquar in operibus" "It is faith, as I so speak, that is the do-all in works". Accessed 13 Mar. Britannica English: Translation of factotum for Arabic Speakers. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! See Definitions and Examples ». Log In. Synonyms of factotum. Did you know?

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It's also a literal translation of the New Latin term "factotum," which in turn traces to the Latin words "facere" "to do" and "totum" "everything". In the 16th century, "factotum" was used in English much like a surname, paired with first names to create personalities such as "Johannes Factotum" literally "John Do-everything". Back then, it wasn't necessarily desirable to be called a "factotum"; the term was a synonym of "meddler" or "busybody. What relative of "factotum" begins with "b" and refers to someone who helps another person, group, etc. The answer is

An employee or assistant who serves in a wide range of capacities. All rights reserved. Copyright , , by Random House, Inc. Copyright The Gale Group, Inc. Switch to new thesaurus. Based on WordNet 3. Mentioned in?

Factotum definition

There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun factotum , three of which are labelled obsolete. Etymons: dominus factotum n. Sign in with library card. Sign in as administrator on Oxford Academic.

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This factotum of the chapel sat where he could oversee the miscellaneous little assemblage, and his eyes instantly pounced upon any offender. Word lists shared by our community of dictionary fans. Word Frequency. Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox! Indeed, she was the factotum of the household. He is the factotum , always in demand, always expected to do the thousand indispensable things that nobody else will do. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Word History. English—Spanish Spanish—English. Tell us about this example sentence:.

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But do they have to be so strange that Area 51 is making headlines? Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once? Choose your language. The smell was really quite. See All. Collins English Dictionary. Get Word of the Day daily email! Whether you're in search of a crossword puzzle, a detailed guide to tying knots, or tips on writing the perfect college essay, Harper Reference has you covered for all your study needs. Word of the Year. Quiz English grammar. Browse factory setting. Pick the best ones! Cite this Entry. Lookups spike for both after on-air argument. Words Near Factotum in the Dictionary fact pattern fact-sheet factory ship factory-pattern factory-reset factory-team factorylike factorywise factotum factotums factour facts-of-life.