factionis

Factionis is the Latin genitive singular of factio, a term used in classical Latin to denote a group formed around shared interests, such as a political faction, a party, or a cabal within a city, army, or senate. In English-language scholarship, the literal sense is “of the faction” and the broader sense is “faction” or “party.”

Etymology and form: factio belongs to the third declension; its genitive is factionis. The sense evolves from a notion of action or making to refer to a group assembled for a particular purpose. The form factionis appears in Latin texts to indicate possession or association with the faction.

Classical usage: In classical Latin, factio (and its genitive factionis) described organized groups aligned by interests or leaders. The term often carries a polemical nuance in rhetorical and historical writings, signaling factional strife and competing agendas. It was used to refer to political groups within the Senate, the assemblies, or military units.

Later Latin and modern usage: The word continued in medieval and humanist Latin with the same core meaning. In modern English, the standard term is “faction,” while factionis appears mainly in Latin quotations or scholarly usage. The genitive form is used in Latin phrases to indicate possession or relation, such as in translations where the sense is “of the faction.”

See also: Factio; Faction; Factionalism; Political faction.