Factitious

Factitious
Factitious Fac*ti"tious, a. [L. factitius, fr. facere to make. See {Fact}, and cf. {Fetich}.] Made by art, in distinction from what is produced by nature; artificial; sham; contrived; formed by, or adapted to, an artificial or conventional, in distinction from a natural, standard or rule; not natural; as, factitious cinnabar or jewels; a factitious taste. -- {Fac-ti"tious*ly}, adv. -- {Fac*ti"tious*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]

He acquires a factitious propensity, he forms an incorrigible habit, of desultory reading. --De Quincey.

Syn: Unnatural.

Usage: {Factitious}, {Unnatural}. Anything is unnatural when it departs in any way from its simple or normal state; it is factitious when it is wrought out or wrought up by labor and effort, as, a factitious excitement. An unnatural demand for any article of merchandise is one which exceeds the ordinary rate of consumption; a factitious demand is one created by active exertions for the purpose. An unnatural alarm is one greater than the occasion requires; a factitious alarm is one wrought up with care and effort. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • factitious — [fak tish′əs] adj. [L facticius < pp. of facere, DO1] not natural, genuine, or spontaneous; forced or artificial [factitious needs created by advertising] factitiously adv. factitiousness n …   English World dictionary

  • factitious — index assumed (feigned), colorable (specious), false (not genuine), imitation, synthetic …   Law dictionary

  • factitious — 1640s, from L. factitius artificial, from factus, pp. of facere do (Cf. Fr. faire, Sp. hacer), from PIE root *dhe to put, to do (Cf. Skt. dadhati puts, places; Avestan dadaiti he puts; O.Pers. ada he …   Etymology dictionary

  • factitious — *artificial, synthetic, ersatz Analogous words: manufactured, fabricated (see MAKE vb): forced, compelled, constrained (see FORCE vb): simulated, feigned, counterfeited, shammed, pretended, affected, assumed (see ASSUME) Antonyms: bona fide,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • factitious — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ artificial; contrived. DERIVATIVES factitiously adverb factitiousness noun. ORIGIN Latin facticius made by art …   English terms dictionary

  • factitious — factitiously, adv. factitiousness, n. /fak tish euhs/, adj. 1. not spontaneous or natural; artificial; contrived: factitious laughter; factitious enthusiasm. 2. made; manufactured: a decoration of factitious flowers and leaves. [1640 50; < L… …   Universalium

  • factitious — factious, factitious, fractious Factious means ‘characterized by faction or dissension’, as in factious quarrelling, whereas factitious means ‘contrived, artificial’, as in factitious reasoning; both words are related to Latin facere ‘to do’ but… …   Modern English usage

  • factitious — /fækˈtɪʃəs / (say fak tishuhs) adjective 1. artificial; not spontaneous or natural: a factitious value; factitious enthusiasm. 2. made; manufactured. {Latin factītius made by art} –factitiously, adverb –factitiousness, noun …  

  • factitious — adj. 1 specially contrived, not genuine (factitious value). 2 artificial, not natural (factitious joy). Derivatives: factitiously adv. factitiousness n. Etymology: L facticius f. facere fact do, make …   Useful english dictionary

  • factitious — adjective Etymology: Latin facticius, from factus, past participle of facere to make, do more at do Date: 1646 1. produced by humans rather than by natural forces 2. a. formed by or adapted to an artificial or conventional standard b. produced by …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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