factotum
See also: factótum
English
Etymology
From New Latin factotum (literally “do everything”), from Latin fac, present singular imperative of faciō (“do, make”) + tōtum (“everything”); attested in English from 1566.
Pronunciation
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Audio (US): (file)
Noun
factotum (plural factotums)
- (dated) A person having many diverse activities or responsibilities.
- (dated) A general servant.
- Synonym: do-all
- 1847, Herman Melville, Omoo, Chapter 73,
- I had almost forgotten Monee, the grinning old man who prepared our meal. […] He was Po-Po’s factotum—cook, butler, and climber of the bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees; and, added to all else, a mighty favourite with his mistress; with whom he would sit smoking and gossiping by the hour.
- An individual employed to do all sorts of duties.
- A jack of all trades.
- Synonyms: handyman, jack of all trades, sciolist
- 2018 January 10, Ann Hornaday, “‘Phantom Thread’: In his final role, Daniel Day-Lewis reminds us he’s a monumental talent”, in Washington Post[1]:
- He lives with his devoted sister and factotum, Cyril (Lesley Manville), and a series of women who tend to be quietly eased out when they demand too much time and attention or — heaven forfend! — dare to speak during Woodcock’s monastic creative routine.
Translations
person having many responsibilities
|
general servant
|
jack of all trades
|
References
- “factotum”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
Further reading
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Dutch
Etymology
Possibly directly or else via French from New Latin factotum (literally “do everything”), from Latin fac, present singular imperative of faciō (“do, make”) + tōtum (“everything”); attested in Dutch from 1605.
Pronunciation
Noun
factotum m (plural factotums, diminutive factotumpje n)
- factotum (jack-of-all-trades)
Synonyms
Italian
Noun
factotum m (uncountable)
- An individual employed to do all sorts of duties.
Categories:
- English terms borrowed from New Latin
- English terms derived from New Latin
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English dated terms
- English terms with quotations
- Dutch terms derived from New Latin
- Dutch terms derived from Latin
- Dutch terms with IPA pronunciation
- Dutch terms with audio links
- Dutch lemmas
- Dutch nouns
- Dutch nouns with plural in -s
- Dutch masculine nouns
- Italian lemmas
- Italian nouns
- Italian uncountable nouns
- Italian masculine nouns