infamia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈfaː.mi.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [iɱˈfaː.mi.a]^[1]

Forms

īnfāmia f (genitive īnfāmiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from īnfāmis “infamous” with the suffix -ia; ⟨īnfāmis⟩ is from in- “not” and fāma “reputation”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of disgrace.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was bad reputation, ill fame, notoriety, as in Cicero; discredit, disgrace, as in Plautus, and īnfāmiam facere alicui “to bring disgrace on someone”; and a scandalous action or circumstance, a dishonour.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it was evil report, ill fame, infamy, disgrace.^[6] In Medieval Latin it was a slur, defamation, and a challenge.^[7] English infamy (early 15th century, “public disgrace”) came through Old French and directly from Latin.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of ill fame.^[2][4]
• early 15th century – English infamy is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Ill fame, notoriety.^[2]
2. Disgrace, infamy, dishonour.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Defamation.^[7]

Related words

• īnfāmis
• fāma
• English infamy

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill