Etymologically
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infamis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 16:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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

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