factitive

[ fak-ti-tiv ]

/ ˈfæk tɪ tɪv /

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adjective Grammar.

noting or pertaining to verbs that express the idea of making or rendering in a certain way and that take a direct object and an additional word or group of words indicating the result of the process, as made in They made him king.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of factitive

1840–50; <New Latin factitīvus, equivalent to factit- (stem of Latin factitāre to do often, practice, declare (someone) to be) + -īvus-ive

OTHER WORDS FROM factitive

fac·ti·tive·ly, adverb

Words nearby factitive

factionalize, faction fight, factious, factitious, factitious disorder, factitive, factive, fact of life, factoid, factor, factorage

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use factitive in a sentence

This word completing a transitive verb is sometimes called a factitive object, or second object, but it is a true complement.
An English Grammar|W. M. Baskervill and J. W. Sewell
This is also called the predicate objective or the factitive object.
An English Grammar|W. M. Baskervill and J. W. Sewell

British Dictionary definitions for factitive

factitive

/ (ˈfæktɪtɪv) /

adjective

grammar denoting a verb taking a direct object as well as a noun in apposition, as for example elect in they elected John president, where John is the direct object and president is the complement

Derived forms of factitive

factitively, adverb

Word Origin for factitive

C19: from New Latin factitīvus, from Latin factitāre to do frequently, from facere to do

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012