factory: [16] Latin factor, a derivative of facere ‘make’, meant ‘maker, doer’ (it was introduced into English in the 15th century as ‘agent’, but was not adopted as a mathematical term until the mid 17th century). Among its post-classical derivatives were late Latin factōrium ‘oil-press’ and medieval Latin factōria ‘establishment for factors or agents’.
It appears that the latter must have been the original source of the word factory in English, which at first meant ‘factorship, agency’. However, this does not fit in at all with its main modern sense ‘place where things are made’, first recorded in the early 17th century, which presumably must go back in some way to Latin factōrium. => fact
factory (n.)
1550s, "estate manager's office," from Middle French factorie (15c.), from Late Latin factorium "office for agents ('factors')," also "oil press, mill," from Latin factor "doer, maker" (see factor (n.)). From 1580s as "establishment of merchants and factors in a foreign place." Sense of "building for making goods" is first attested 1610s. Factory farm attested from 1890.
双语例句
1. Nora was deflowered by a man who worked in a soda-water factory.
在汽水厂工作的一个男子夺去了诺拉的童贞。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The demand generated by one factory required the construction of another.
一家工厂产生的需求使得必须再建造一家工厂。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The girl had found out about the goings-on in the factory.
这个女孩已经发现了工厂里的勾当。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The factory may make as few as 1,500 cars this year.
今年，工厂生产的小轿车可能只有1,500辆。
来自柯林斯例句
5. He's got a bee in his bonnet about factory farming.