Infamie

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state of being infamous or having a bad reputation due to disgraceful actions or conduct
2. The quality of being notorious, often for a specific moral failing or scandalous behavior
3. A condition characterized by widespread acknowledgment of negative character or actions leading to public disgrace

Etymology: "Infamie" is an obsolete spelling of "infamy," and the spelling shows the word's French path into English. It arrived in late Middle English from Old French "infamie," which came from Latin "īnfāmia," meaning "infamy," itself built from "īnfāmis" ("infamous"). That Latin adjective combines the negative prefix "in-" ("not") with "fāma," meaning "fame" or "renown." The literal sense is therefore a lack of good fame, or, more bluntly, the opposite of renown. English once had its own word for this idea. Old English speakers used "unhlīsa," which literally meant "bad fame," and it was displaced when the Latin-derived term took over. The newcomer's logic is the same as the native word's: a reputation so damaged that it becomes a mark of shame rather than distinction.

Synonyms: infamy, disgrace, shame, dishonor, notoriety

Antonyms: honor, fame, glory, respect, prestige