infamis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈfaː.mɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [iɱˈfaː.mis]^[1]

Forms

īnfāmis (neuter īnfāme); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from in- “not” and fāma “reputation”, with the suffix ⟨-is⟩.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a person with a bad name.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant having a bad name, notorious, as in Plautus, and in Cicero defamed, disgraced.^[2] In Nepos it meant shameful, infamous.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant infamous, disreputable.^[4] Medieval Latin used it for one under public suspicion.^[5] British Medieval Latin used it of disreputable persons, as a disgraced cleric about 802.^[6] It was borrowed into Italian and Spanish infame and French infâme, and its sense passed into English infamous in the late 14th century.^[1][7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the notorious.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the disgraced.^[2][3]
• late 14th century – English infamous takes its sense.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of ill repute, notorious.^[2]
2. Defamed, disgraced.^[2]
3. Shameful, infamous.^[2]
4. (Medieval Latin) Under public suspicion.^[5]

Word family

• īnfāmia
• perīnfāmis

Related words

• fāma
• English infamous

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com