Middle English Dictionary Entry
infāmis adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | infāmis adj. Also infames, infamous. |
| Etymology | L infāmis & ML infāmōsus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. famous.
1.
(a) Of ill repute; censured, disreputable; (b) ?not well-known, obscure.
Associated quotations
a
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)87 : Thei that ben forsworen opinli ben infamis and worthi to be priuid of alle beneficis of the chirche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)326a/b : Þis nombre hatte binarius and is infames [L infamis] among som men, for by þe nombre of tweyne we beþ departed fro oon, and so þis nombre is acompted tokne and [read: of] diuisioun and of departyng.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.168 : Þei had þanne ben infamis [vr. infames] þe firste day, þei can so yuel hele conseille.
b
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.271 : No man liȝtiþ a lanterne in derknesse, and puttiþ it in oon of þes two infamous places, neþer in hid place ne undir a bushel.