Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ



Jul 17, 2014
This week's theme
Words that appear to be misspellings

This week's words
vizard
grogram
secretory
factitious
proem

Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

factitious

PRONUNCIATION:
(fak-TISH-uhs)

MEANING:
adjective:
1. Artificial.
2. Sham.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin facticius (artificial), from factus, past participle of facere (to do). Earliest documented use: 1646.

USAGE:
"'For me, this is the only real place,' David says in the novel, but for the reader the city remains disappointingly factitious."
Say Nice Things About Detroit; The New Yorker; Aug 27, 2012.

See more usage examples of factitious in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
There are stars whose radiance is visible on Earth though they have long been extinct. There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world though they are no longer among the living. These lights are particularly bright when the night is dark. They light the way for humankind. -Hannah Senesh, poet, playwright, and paratrooper (1921-1944)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith