A Fact Was Originally Something Done
A fact is something known to be true. The Latin word meant a deed, not a piece of information.
A fact is something known or proved to be true. Latin *factum* meant a thing done, from *facere*, to do — so a fact was originally a deed. The legal phrase *after the fact* preserves this exactly: an accessory after the fact assisted after the crime was committed, not after the information existed. The modern sense of a verified piece of information dates only from the 1600s, arriving with the scientific revolution.
- A verified truth. *A matter of fact.*
- A deed (archaic). *After the fact.*
- In fact — actually. *In fact.*
- Factual — based on fact. *Factual.*
- Latin — *factum*, a thing done. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | fact | A fact. |
| Plural | facts | Facts. |
| Adjective | factual | Factual. |
| Related | factory | A factory. |
| Latin | facere | To do. |
- Check the facts first.Truth.
- An accessory after the fact.Law.
- Factum means a thing done.Etymology.
The facere family
- Factory — a place where things are made
- Manufacture — to make by hand
- Benefactor — one who does good
- Affect — to act upon
- Difficult — literally not easy to do
Latin *factum*, a thing done, from *facere*, to do or make.
Did fact always mean information?
No. It meant a deed. The sense of a verified piece of information dates from the 1600s and the scientific revolution.
What does accessory after the fact mean?
Someone who helped after a crime was committed. Fact here keeps the older meaning of a deed.