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infamous

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in⋅fa⋅mous

  [in-fuh-muhs]
Use infamous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having an extremely bad reputation: an infamous city.
2. deserving of or causing an evil reputation; shamefully malign; detestable: an infamous deed.
3. Law.
a. deprived of certain rights as a citizen, as a consequence of conviction of certain offenses.
b. of or pertaining to offenses involving such deprivation.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L infām(is) (see infamy ) + -ous

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

Synonyms:
1. disreputable, ill-famed, notorious. 2. disgraceful, scandalous; nefarious, odious, wicked, shocking, vile, base, heinous, villainous.

Antonyms:
1. reputable. 2. praiseworthy, admirable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·fa·mous   (ĭn'fə-məs)   
adj.  

  1. Having an exceedingly bad reputation; notorious.

  2. Causing or deserving infamy; heinous: an infamous deed.

  3. Law

    1. Punishable by severe measures, such as death, long imprisonment, or loss of civil rights.

    2. Convicted of a crime, such as treason or felony, that carries such a punishment.


[Middle English infamis, from Latin īnfāmis : in-, not; see in-1 + fāma, renown, fame; see bhā-2 in Indo-European roots.]
in'fa·mous·ly adv., in'fa·mous·ness n.
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

infamous 
c.1378, from M.L. infamosus, from L. in- "not" + famosus "celebrated." Meaning infl. by L. infamis "of ill fame," from in- "not, without" + fama "reputation." As a legal term, "disqualified from certain rights of citizens in consequence of conviction of a crime" (1395). Infamy is 1473, from O.Fr. infamie, from L. infamia.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: in·fa·mous
Pronunciation: 'in-f&-m&s
Function: adjective
: of, relating to, or being a crime punishable by imprisonment (as a year or more in a penitentiary) that can lead to loss of rights and privileges upon conviction; also : convicted of such a crime
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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