factitious

Definition

Created by humans; artificial.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin factītius (“artificial”), alternative form of factīcius, from faciō (“to make, do”). Doublet of fetish.

Example Sentences

• "[...] if from erosion of the gums, by such things as restore them, strengthen and bind them; if wanting, it may be helped by the factitious; their ſordes are removed, by washing and cleaning them; and their blacknesse, by dentifrices."
• "Most men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked by them."
• "Manners are partly factitious, but, mainly, there must be capacity for culture in the blood. Else all culture is vain."

Related Words