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| WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
Infamous
Pronunciation : In"fa*mous
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [Pref. in- not + famous: cf. L. infamis. See Infamy.]
Definition : 1. Of very bad report; having a reputation of the worst kind; held in abhorrence; guilty of something that exposes to infamy; base; notoriously vile; detestable; as, an infamous traitor; an infamous perjurer. False errant knight, infamous, and forsworn. Spenser.
2. Causing or producing infamy; deserving detestation; scandalous to the last degree; as, an infamous act; infamous vices; infamous corruption. Macaulay.
3. (Law)
Defn: Branded with infamy by conviction of a crime; as, at common law, an infamous person can not be a witness.
4. Having a bad name as being the place where an odious crime was committed, or as being associated with something detestable; hence, unlucky; perilous; dangerous. "Infamous woods." P. Fletcher. Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds. Milton. The piny shade More infamous by cursed Lycaon made. Dryden.
Syn. -- Detestable; odious; scandalous; disgraceful; base; vile; shameful; ignominious.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
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