no·to·ri·ous (nō-tôr'ē-əs, -tōr'-) adj. Known widely and usually unfavorably; infamous: a notorious gangster; a district notorious for vice.
[From Medieval Latin nōtōrius, well-known, from Latin nōtus, known, past participle of nōscere, to get to know; see gnō- in Indo-European roots.] no·to'ri·ous·ly adv., no·to'ri·ous·ness n.
1548, "publicly known," from M.L. notorius "well-known, commonly known," from L. notus "known," pp. of noscere "come to know" (see know). Negative connotation arose 17c. from frequent association with derogatory nouns.