S: (n) factor (anything that contributes causally to a result) "a number of factors determined the outcome"
S: (n) fundamental (any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a particular business) "fundamentals include a company's growth, revenues, earnings, management, and capital structure"
S: (n) parameter (any factor that defines a system and determines (or limits) its performance)
S: (n) unknown quantity (a factor in a given situation whose bearing and importance is not apparent) "I don't know what the new man will do; he's still an unknown quantity"
S: (n) wild card (an unpredictable factor) "the weather was a wild card"
S: (n) releasing factor, releasing hormone, RF (a substance produced by the hypothalamus that is capable of accelerating the secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland)
S: (n) intrinsic factor (a substance produced by the mucosa of the stomach and intestines that is essential for the absorption of vitamin B12) "lack of intrinsic factor can result in pernicious anemia"
S: (n) producer (something that produces) "Maine is a leading producer of potatoes"; "this microorganism is a producer of disease"
S: (n) preliminary, overture, prelude (something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows) "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner"
S: (n) emanation, rise, procession ((theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost) "the emanation of the Holy Spirit"; "the rising of the Holy Ghost"; "the doctrine of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son"