Fac-tĭ'tious, a.

(fak-tĭsh'us), a. [Lat. factitius, from facere, to make; Sp. facticio, It. fattizio, Fr. factice.] Made by art, in distinction from what is produced by nature; artificial; formed by, or adapted to, an artificial or conventional, in distinction from a natural, standard or rule; unnatural; as, factitious cinnabar or jewels.

He acquires a factitious propensity, he forms an incorrigible habit, of desultory reading. De Quincey.

Synonyms— Unnatural. — FACTITIOUS, UNNATURAL. A thing is unnatural when it departs in any way from its simple or normal state; it is factitious when it is wrought out or wrought up by labor and effort; as, a factitious excitement. An unnatural demand for any article of merchandise is one which exceeds the ordinary rate of consumption; a factitious demand is one created by active exertions for the purpose. An unnatural alarm is one greater than the occasion requires; a factitious alarm is one wrought up with care and effort.