Fac"tor (?), n. [L. factor a
doer: cf. F. facteur a factor. See Fact.]
1. (Law) One who transacts business for
another; an agent; a substitute; especially, a mercantile agent who
buys and sells goods and transacts business for others in commission;
a commission merchant or consignee. He may be a home factor or a
foreign factor. He may buy and sell in his own name, and he is
intrusted with the possession and control of the goods; and in these
respects he differs from a broker. Story.
Wharton.
My factor sends me word, a merchant's fled
That owes me for a hundred tun of wine.
Marlowe.
2. A steward or bailiff of an estate.
[Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
3. (Math.) One of the elements or
quantities which, when multiplied together, form a product.
4. One of the elements, circumstances, or
influences which contribute to produce a result; a
constituent.
The materal and dynamical factors of
nutrition.
H. Spencer.Fac"tor, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Factored (-t?rd); p. pr. & vb.
n. Factoring.] (Mach.) To resolve (a
quantity) into its factors.