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famously

 - 3 dictionary results

fa⋅mous

  [fey-muhs]
–adjective
1. having a widespread reputation, usually of a favorable nature; renowned; celebrated: a famous writer.
2. Informal. first-rate; excellent: The singer gave a famous performance.
3. notorious (used pejoratively).
Use famously in a Sentence
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < AF < L fāmōsus. See fame, -ous

Related forms:
fa⋅mous⋅ly, adverb
fa⋅mous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. famed, notable, illustrious. Famous, celebrated, eminent, distinguished refer to someone or something widely and favorably known. Famous is the general word: a famous lighthouse. Celebrated originally referred to something commemorated, but now usually refers to someone or something widely known for conspicuous merit, services, etc.: a celebrated writer. Eminent implies high standing among one's contemporaries, esp. in one's own profession or craft: an eminent physician. Distinguished adds to eminent the idea of honors conferred more or less publicly: a distinguished scientist.

Antonyms:
1. unknown, obscure.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To famously
fa·mous·ly   (fā'məs-lē)   
adv.  

  1. In a way or to an extent that is well known: "his famously neurotic mannerisms [are] lampooned in the novels of Evelyn Waugh" (James Atlas).

  2. With the result of becoming famous: "Frost had famously declared that poetry is what gets lost in translation" (David Lehman).

  3. Excellently; splendidly: We got along famously.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

famous 
c.1385, from Anglo-Fr. famous, from O.Fr. fameus, from L. famosus, from fama (see fame). Catch phrase famous last words "remark likely to be proved wrong" is first attested 1948.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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