Part 9

De Foe.

This reasoning is founded upon a fact which is not true.

Roger Long.

The term fact has in jurisprudence peculiar uses in contrast with law; as, attorney at law, and attorney in fact; issue in law, and issue in fact. There is also a grand distinction between law and fact with reference to the province of the judge and that of the jury, the latter generally determining the fact, the former the law. Burrill Bouvier. [1913 Webster]

Accessary before, or after, the fact. See under Accessary. -- Matter of fact, an actual occurrence; a verity; used adjectively: of or pertaining to facts; prosaic; unimaginative; as, a matter-of-fact narration.

Syn. -- Act; deed; performance; event; incident; occurrence; circumstance.

Fac"tion (fk"shn), n. [L. factio a doing, a company of persons acting together, a faction: cf. F. faction See Fashion.] 1. (Anc. Hist.) One of the divisions or parties of charioteers (distinguished by their colors) in the games of the circus.

2. A party, in political society, combined or acting in union, in opposition to the government, or state; -- usually applied to a minority, but it may be applied to a majority; a combination or clique of partisans of any kind, acting for their own interests, especially if greedy, clamorous, and reckless of the common good.

3. Tumult; discord; dissension.

They remained at Newbury in great faction among themselves.

Clarendon.

Syn. -- Combination; clique; junto. See Cabal.

Fac"tion*a*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. factionnaire, L. factionarius the head of a company of charioteers.] Belonging to a faction; being a partisan; taking sides. [Obs.]

Always factionary on the party of your general.

Shak.

Fac"tion*er (-?r), n. One of a faction. Abp. Bancroft.

Fac"tion*ist, n. One who promotes faction.

Fac"tious (?). a. [L. factiosus: cf. F. factieux.] 1. Given to faction; addicted to form parties and raise dissensions, in opposition to government or the common good; turbulent; seditious; prone to clamor against public measures or men; -- said of persons.

Factious for the house of Lancaster.

Shak.

2. Pertaining to faction; proceeding from faction; indicating, or characterized by, faction; -- said of acts or expressions; as, factious quarrels.

Headlong zeal or factious fury.

Burke.

-- Fac"tious*ly, adv. -- Fac"tious- ness, n.

Fac*ti"tious (?), a. [L. factitius, fr. facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Fetich.] Made by art, in distinction from what is produced by nature; artificial; sham; formed by, or adapted to, an artificial or conventional, in distinction from a natural, standard or rule; not natural; as, factitious cinnabar or jewels; a factitious taste. -- Fac-ti"tious*ly, adv. -- Fac*ti"tious-ness, n.

He acquires a factitious propensity, he forms an incorrigible habit, of desultory reading.

De Quincey.

Syn. -- Unnatural. -- Factitious, Unnatural. Anything is unnatural when it departs in any way from its simple or normal state; it is factitious when it is wrought out or wrought up by labor and effort, as, a factitious excitement. An unnatural demand for any article of merchandise is one which exceeds the ordinary rate of consumption; a factitious demand is one created by active exertions for the purpose. An unnatural alarm is one greater than the occasion requires; a factitious alarm is one wrought up with care and effort.