He acquires a factitious propensity, he forms an
incorrigible habit, of desultory reading. --De Quincey.
Usage: {Factitious}, {Unnatural}. Anything 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.