factor
UK: ˈfæktə | US: ˈfæktər
n. a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result
n. (mathematics) a number or quantity that divides another exactly
n. a business agent or intermediary
vt. to resolve into factors
The word factor traces back to Latin factor ("doer, maker"), derived from facere ("to do/make"). It entered Middle English via Old French facteur, originally referring to a commercial agent who "makes things happen" in trade. Over time, it expanded to mathematical contexts (factors "make up" a product) and broader causal meanings.
Time was a critical factor in the experiment’s success.
3 is a factor of 15.
The company hired a factor to manage overseas transactions.
She factored the equation to simplify the problem.
Environmental factors heavily influence crop yields.