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What is a factotum?

Question #112573. Asked by 29CoveRoad.

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Juggernaut314
Answer has 4 votes
Currently Best Answer
Juggernaut314
15 year member
98 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
From wikipedia (link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factotum)

"A factotum is a general servant or a person having many diverse activities or responsibilities. The word derives from the Latin command (imperative construction) fac totum ("do/make everything")."

This is additionally confirmed at wordnet (link http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=factotum)

"(n) factotum (a servant employed to do a variety of jobs) "

Feb 02 2010, 4:38 PM
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kevinatilusa
Answer has 2 votes
kevinatilusa
22 year member
129 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.
The most famous factotum? Perhaps it's

FIGGGAAARRROOO, Figaro Figaro Figaro Figaro Figaro FIGGGARROO.

(that particular aria from the Barber of Seville is named "Largo al Factotum" and refers to Figaro's pride in being the go-to guy for everything).

Feb 02 2010, 8:25 PM
queproblema star
Answer has 3 votes
queproblema star
18 year member
2119 replies

Answer has 3 votes.
I'll just copy and paste from Wiki. They have the full lyrics in both Italian and English.

Largo al factotum ("Make way for the factotum") is an aria from The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini, sung at the first entrance of the title character; the repeated "Figaro"s before the final patter section are an icon in popular culture of operatic singing. The term "factotum" refers to a general servant and comes from the Latin where it literally means "do everything."
link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largo_al_factotum

A friend of ours, upon retiring, volunteered as a general handyman at a Bible camp and printed business cards with his name, phone, fax, and title: Chief Factotum. Some people thought, until they saw his ruddy, blond complexion, that he must be a Native American. :)

Feb 02 2010, 10:35 PM
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