factotum

Meaning

1. (dated) A person having many diverse activities or responsibilities.
2. (dated) A general servant.
3. A person employed to do all sorts of duties.
4. A jack of all trades.
5. (historical) A large decorative printing block with a central space into which any letter can be inserted, used to mark the beginning of a chapter of a book in early printing.

Synonyms

handyman

jack of all trades

jack-of-all-trades

majordomo

messenger

office boy

do-all

dispatch carrier

general factotum

one’s favorite disciple

Translations

factotum

factotum

factótum

manusje-van-alles

factotum

Faktotum

kâhya

factoto

muchacho de los mandados

παντοποιός

faz-tudo

hombre orquesta

touche-à-tout

Heimwerker

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fækˈtəʊ.təm/

Etymology

Ellipsis of domine fac totum, dominus fac totum /dominus factotum (“absolute ruler; head servant”), from Medieval Latin domine fac tōtum (“O Lord, do everything”), also with substition of nominative dominus for vocative domine.