Make Your Point > Archived Issues > FACTOTUM
Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.
connect today's word to others:
In Latin, domine fac totum means "O Lord, do everything," and originally a domine fac totum--soon, just a factotum--was a person with full control, often the head servant of a household. If you've seen some episodes of Downton Abbey, you know the factotum Mr. Carson, the butler who manages all the other servants.
We also use the word factotum more loosely as a label for any object or device that works in all situations or performs all types of functions. You might refer to your smartphone as your factotum, or maybe instead as your v___ me___, your go-with-me, the thing you never leave home without.
You can see how the word factotum is closely related to other words involving making or doing things, like factory, fact, fiction, and __ficious ("taking charge in a pushy, annoying way, doing all sorts of things no one wanted done"), as well as words like total, totality, and totalitarian.
Factotums do everything. They're do-it-all-ers.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
make your point with...
"FACTOTUM"
Latin for "do-everything," a factotum is a worker who does all kinds of tasks.
More loosely, a factotum is a thing that's useful in very many ways.
Pronunciation:
fack TOE dum
Part of speech:
Noun, the countable kind.
Talk about one factotum or more than one factotums.
(When you want to be silly, use the incorrect but sophisticated-sounding plural "factota.")
Other forms:
The plural is "factotums."
We've also got "factotumship(s)."
You can use "factotum" loosely like an adjective: "a factotum servant," "this factotum app."
And, you can use the phrase "Johannes factotum" as a synonym of "Jack of all trades."
How to use it:
Refer to someone as a factotum, as someone's factotum, or as a factotum to or for someone or some company.
You can also say someone or something is being a factotum, acting as a factotum, working as a factotum, serving as a factotum, etc.
And factotums don't have to be people: you can refer to any concrete or abstract thing as a factotum when it seems to do everything or seems to work in every situation.
examples:
When I look up common words in a dictionary, I marvel at those entries, at their thoroughness. The OED's entry for "find," a lexical factotum, lists eight phrases and almost fifty standalone definitions.
"For those unfamiliar with the BBC series, Doctor Who is a quirky but benevolent humanoid alien who travels through space and time and uses his sonic screwdriver as a factotum of sorts."
— Emi Kolawole, Washington Post, 20 April 2012
study it:
Explain the meaning of "factotum" without saying "Jack of all trades" or "thing that does tons of things."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "(Someone's) factotum (in a certain situation) is _____, which (serves a wide variety of particular functions)."
Example: "My factotum at the makeup station is the baby wipe, which cleans everything off surfaces, brushes, sponges, fingers, and the face, even mistakes made with waterproof eyeliner, of which there are plenty."
before you review, play:
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
Controversial Catchphrases!
This month, let's consider all kinds of important, ongoing controversies in our world.
I'll give you a handful of key phrases that people use when they argue over a controversial question, and you try to pinpoint what that question is. I'll be drawing these issues and phrases from ProCon.org, a fantastic resource for understanding controversial issues (and for introducing those issues to your kids).
From the previous issue:
People who argue "yes" say things like "discipline," "boundaries," and "moderation."
People who argue "no" say things like "unsafe and violent," "inappropriate," and "physical and mental harm."
What's the question?
The question is, "Should corporal punishment be used in schools?" (Explore this issue at ProCon.org.)
Try this one today:
People who argue "yes" say things like "the public good" and "the power to destroy."
People who argue "no" say things like "lost revenue" and "a privilege, not a constitutional right."
People who argue either side say "separation of church and state."
What's the question?
review today's word:
1. A close opposite of FACTOTUM is
A. ZERO-SUM GAME.
B. ONE-TRICK PONY.
C. FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT.
2. She used _____ as a factotum for all _____.
A. a warm smile .. negotiations
B. Vaseline .. bodily and household woes
C. awkward giggling .. conversational pauses
Answers are below.
a final word:
Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From Liesl's blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. B
2. B
In Latin, domine fac totum means "O Lord, do everything," and originally a domine fac totum--soon, just a factotum--was a person with full control, often the head servant of a household. If you've seen some episodes of Downton Abbey, you know the factotum Mr. Carson, the butler who manages all the other servants.
"FACTOTUM" Latin for "do-everything," a factotum is a worker who does all kinds of tasks.
When I look up common words in a dictionary, I marvel at those entries, at their thoroughness. The OED's entry for "find," a lexical factotum, lists eight phrases and almost fifty standalone definitions.
Explain the meaning of "factotum" without saying "Jack of all trades" or "thing that does tons of things."
Fill in the blanks: "(Someone's) factotum (in a certain situation) is _____, which (serves a wide variety of particular functions)."
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
1. A close opposite of FACTOTUM is
Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |