factotum

From New Latin factotum (literally “do everything”), from Latin fac, present singular imperative of faciō (“do, make”) + tōtum (“everything”); attested in English from 1566.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fækˈtəʊ.təm/
• (US) IPA^(key): /fækˈtoʊ.təm/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

factotum (plural factotums)

1. (dated) A person having many diverse activities or responsibilities.
2. (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.

3. An individual employed to do all sorts of duties.
4. 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:

     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.

• factotum in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

• Factotum on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

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.

• IPA^(key): /fɑkˈtoː.tʏm/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: fac‧to‧tum

factotum m (plural factotums, diminutive factotumpje n)

1. factotum (jack-of-all-trades)

• manusje-van-alles
• klusjesman

factotum m (invariable)

1. An individual employed to do all sorts of duties.