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Fame

 - 3 dictionary results

fame

  [feym] noun, verb, famed, fam⋅ing.
Use Fame in a Sentence
–noun
1. widespread reputation, esp. of a favorable character; renown; public eminence: to seek fame as an opera singer.
2. common estimation or opinion generally held of a person or thing; reputation.
–verb (used with object)
3. Archaic. to have or spread the renown of; to make famous.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME < AF, OF < L fāma talk, public opinion, repute, akin to fārī to speak

Related forms:
fameless, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Fame
fame   (fām)   
n.  

    1. Great renown: a concert violinist of international fame.

    2. Public estimation; reputation: a politician of ill fame.

  2. Archaic Rumor.

tr.v.   famed, fam·ing, fames

  1. To make renowned or famous.

  2. Archaic To report to be.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin fāma; see bhā-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

fame 
c.1290, "celebrity, renown," from O.Fr. fame, from L. fama "talk, rumor, report, reputation," from PIE base *bha- "to speak, tell, say" (cf. Skt. bhanati "speaks;" L. fari "to say;" Arm. ban, bay "word, term;" O.C.S. bajati "to talk, tell;" O.E. boian "to boast," ben "prayer, request;" Gk. pheme "talk," phone "voice, sound," phanai "to speak;" O.Ir. bann "law"). The goddess Fama was the personification of rumor in Roman mythology. The L. derivative fabulare was the colloq. word for "speak, talk" since the time of Plautus, whence Sp. hablar.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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