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Where does the word "factor" come from? It comes from Latin factor, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
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Where does the word "factor" come from? It comes from Latin factor, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
Factor’s story begins in Latin: factor meant “doer, maker.” From 'facere', to do. It reached English by 1400s as factor. Mathematical 'factors' date from the 1600s. Today, factor means a circumstance that contributes to a result.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient factor "doer, maker", from 'facere', to do.
- Stage 2 · English · 1400s factor "agent", mathematical 'factors' date from the 1600s.