early 15c., "commercial agent, deputy, one who buys or sells for another," from Middle French facteur "agent, representative" (Old French factor, faitor "doer, author, creator"), from Latin factor "doer, maker, performer," in Medieval Latin, "agent," agent noun from past participle stem of facere "to do" (see factitious). In commerce, especially "a commission merchant." Mathematical sense is from 1670s. Sense of "circumstance producing a result" is attested by 1816, from the mathematical sense.
factor (v.)
1610s, "act as an agent, manage," from factor (n.). The use in mathematics is attested from 1837. Related: Factored; factoring.
双语例句
1. Stress, both human and mechanical, may also be a contributing factor.
来自人的和机械方面的压力可能也是一个因素。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Environmentalists say a critical factor in the city's pollution is its population.
环境保护主义者说造成该城市污染问题的一个关键因素是其人口数量。
来自柯林斯例句
3. This factor will come increasingly to the fore as election day nears.
随着选举日的临近，这一因素将愈发重要。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Obesity is a major risk factor in many diseases.
肥胖是引发多种疾病的重要因素。
来自柯林斯例句
5. A key factor in running a business is the delegation of responsibility.