Building a Better Vocabulary

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morphemes, fac and totum. Fac is from the Latin word facio, which
means “to do or make,” and totum is a Latin word meaning “all.” A
factotum, then, is someone who does everything.

z Many other English words that contain the root fac share the core
meaning of “do or make.” For example:
ż A fact is something that’s true. This word is derived from the
Latin factum, meaning “thing done.” If something was done, it
actually happened; therefore, it’s true—a fact.

ż The manu in manufacture is the Latin word for “hand,” as in the
phrase “manual labor.” Thus, something that is manufactured
is literally “made by hand,” not something found in nature.

ż Facile means easily “done” or accomplished.

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to another fac word, factitious.

Factitious (adjective)



  1. Made or manufactured; not natural.

  2. Made up in the sense of contrived; a sham, fake, or phony.


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related to the meaning of “make.”

z To put the word in context, we might say: (1) “The CIA agent hid
his message inside the hollow factitious rock by the bridge; his
handler would pick up the message a few hours later”; or (2) “My
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happy to see our cousins show up once again unannounced.”

z Next, connect the word factitious to something in your own
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