Middle English Dictionary Entry
fāmǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | fāmǒus adj. Sup. mōst fāmǒus, fāmǒuste. |
| Etymology | AF, & L fāmōs-us. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Celebrated, renowned, famous; (b) well-reputed, estimable; (c) well-known.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.215 : Þis Pelagius was abbot of þat famous [Higd.(2): famose] abbay.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.364 : Many worthi, in knyȝthood ful famous.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1404 : Swich a famous knyght of gentilesse.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1444 : That thow this famous tresor myghtest wynne.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1137 : With famous folkes names fele, That had iben in mochel wele, And her fames wide yblowe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)376/37 : One of the famuste knyghtes of the worlde.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.103 : To see this ster most famows of renown.
b
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.81va : Judith .. was a famous woman and dredde God gretly.
c
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)117a/b : Þere ben two [species of morphew] moste famouse .i. knowþe.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)32 : The which thing is opne and ffamous [L famosum].
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)91 : Of eny oþer famose article of bileve.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)27 : Such speche is famose in vce.
2.
Notorious, infamous.
Associated quotations
- c1400 WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.9)Gen.6.4 : Famouse men, that is, of yuel fame, for thei weren rauenouris and lecchouris.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.27.16 : He hadde tho a famous [WB(1): noble, vr. famos] man boundun, that was seid Barrabas.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.750 : Lyke as a synner, the more famouus he be, The gretter is the synne and the more payne.