Factor /(?)/

1. 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. (Law)

   My factor sends me word, a merchant's fled That owes me for a hundred tun of wine.

2. A steward or bailiff of an estate. [Scot.]
3. One of the elements or quantities which, when multiplied together, form a product. (Math.)
4. One of the elements, circumstances, or influences which contribute to produce a result; a constituent; a contributory cause.

   The materal and dynamical factors of nutrition.

imp. & p. p. Factored; p. pr. & vb. n. Factoring

1. To resolve (a quantity) into its factors. (Mach.)