Fact — Defs

01 n. A doing, making, or preparing.

1.
A doing, making, or preparing.[Obs.]
“A project for the fact and vending Of a new kind of fucus, paint for ladies.” — B. Jonson.
2.
An effect produced or achieved; anything done or that comes to pass; an act; an event; a circumstance.
“What might instigate him to this devilish fact, I am not able to conjecture.” — Evelyn.

“He who most excels in fact of arms.” — Milton.
3.
Reality; actuality; truth; as, he, in fact, excelled all the rest; the fact is, he was beaten.
4.
The assertion or statement of a thing done or existing; sometimes, even when false, improperly put, by a transfer of meaning, for the thing done, or supposed to be done; a thing supposed or asserted to be done; as, history abounds with false facts.
“I do not grant the fact.” — De Foe.

“This reasoning is founded upon a fact which is not true.” — Roger Long.

Phrases & compounds

Accessary before the fact — See under Accessary.

Matter of fact — an actual occurrence; a verity; used adjectively: of or pertaining to facts; prosaic; unimaginative; as, a matter-of-fact narration.

Syn. Act; deed; performance; event; incident; occurrence; circumstance.