▪ I. notorious, a.1
(nəʊˈtɔərɪəs)
Also 6 -iouse, -ius.
[ad. med.L. nōtōrius (cf. late L. nōtōria fem., nōtōrium neut., intelligence, information, etc.), f. nōtus known: see -ory. So It., Sp., and Pg. notorio, F. notoire: cf. notoir, notory, notour.]
1. Of facts: Well known; commonly or generally known; forming a matter of common knowledge.
| 1555 Eden Dec. W. Ind. (Arb.) 198 His courage was such and his factes so notorious. a 1586 Sidney Ps. xx. iii, Lett him [God] notorious make, That in good part he did thy offrings take. 1621 Bp. R. Montagu Diatribæ 567 Why were not other Examples brought into practice, as notorious as that of Abraham paying Tithes? 1686 W. Clagett 17 Serm. (1699) App. 15 These testimonies were too notorious and publick to be gainsaid. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. II. 407 That Every one is bound..to..keep within his own Property..is too notorious to need a Proof. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 10 ¶6 Men..who deny the most notorious facts. 1779 Sheridan Critic i. i, My power with the managers is pretty notorious. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. iii. 241 The House of Commons had stated their complaints in the form of special notorious facts. 1866 Liddon Bampton Lect. vii. (1875) 391 The worship of Christ by the early Christians was a living and notorious practice. |
b. In phr. it is notorious that.
| a 1738 Swift Misc. (J.), Although it be notorious that they do not receive the third penny of the real value. 1756 Lucas Ess. Waters III. 116 It is notorious that the former never parts with it's acid. 1809 W. Irving Knickerb. i. v. (1849) 63 It is notorious, that the savages knew nothing of agriculture. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 262 It was notorious that loyal and able men had been turned out of office in England merely for being Protestants. 1883 Manch. Exam. 29 Oct. 5/2 That the army, at least the more active spirits within it, were discontented was notorious. |
2. Of places, persons, etc.: Well or widely known (now rare); † famous.
| 1555 Eden Dec. W. Ind. (Arb.) 346 A famous and notorious place amonge the Indians. 1588 Marprel. Epist. (Arb.) 40 Manie of you..are men verie notorious for their learning and preaching. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. Auth. to Rdr., I purposed to mention only such [towns and castles] as were most notorious. 1614 Purchas Pilgrimage (ed. 2) 44 Of Cham is the name Chemmis in ægypt; and Ammon the Idoll and Oracle so notorious. |
| 1865 Grote Plato I. 136 Where was the person to be found, notorious and accessible, who could say [etc.]. |
b. Such as is or may be generally, openly, or publicly known. Now rare.
| 1584 D. Fenner Def. Ministers (1587) 125 Their liues are not put to notorious and publike examination. 1622 Bacon Hen. VII (1876) 28 That Edward Plantagenet..should be, in the most public and notorious manner,..shewed unto the people. 1669–70 Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 308 Either by confession of the party, or oath of witnesses, or by notorious evidence. 1715 Lond. Gaz. No. 5455/1 The Clerks of the Peace are to keep Parchment Books or Rolls at some notorious Place. 1724 Ibid. No. 6257/3 All..Sheriffs..are.. required to keep Parchment Books..at some notorious Place in the County. 1818 Hallam Mid. Ages (1872) I. 251 This formality was by degrees..deemed essential to render them authentic and notorious. 1863 Cox Instit. iii. v. 647 The Privy Council, whom the law recognized as the sworn and notorious Councillors of the Crown. |
† 3. Conspicuous; obvious, evident. Obs.
| 1608 Topsell Serpents (1658) 639 The elder sort..very notorious and goodly to see to in regard of their gravity, hoariness, and anciency. Ibid. 785 If it did represent any notorious and manifest colour, they would..take heed of such traps aforehand. 1609 Bible (Douay) Levit. xxvi. 1 Neither shal you erect titles, nor set a notorious stone in your land, for to adore it. a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1683) II. ii. 22 That God hath an especial regard to men will thence also become notorious. 1704 Ray Creation (ed. 4) ii. 278 The failing in any of these would cause Irregularity in the Body..such as would be very notorious. 1770 Amherst Rec. (1884) 49/2 To Chose a Comittee to Visit the boundaries of the town and renew such as are Destroyed and make them Notorious. |
4. Used attributively with designations of persons which imply evil or wickedness: Well known, noted (as being of this kind).
| 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Comm. Prayer Offices 31 Suche persones as were notorious synners. 1574 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 395 Declarit tratouris and notorius rebellis. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World i. (1634) 163 Ninus was the first notorious sacrificer to Idols. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. ii. 23 These Arabs are notorious Robbers. 1755 Young Centaur ii. Wks. 1757 IV. 151 This will excuse my indignation at two notorious offenders. 1785 Burke Wks. IV. 312 Sending that notorious incendiary to the Court of the nabob of Arcot. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. India II. 434 His subjects, many of whom were notorious robbers. 1884 Pae Eustace xix, I know where some of the most notorious smugglers reside. |
b. Similarly of deeds, facts, etc.
| 1561 Winȝet Tractates Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 11 Preseruing..thy bewtifull body and saule fra al spot of notorius cryme. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iv. i. 84, I shall haue Law in Ephesus, To your notorious shame, I doubt it not. a 1631 Donne Serm. viii. 82 To proceed in those pious works, which with so notorious falshood they deny. 1673 Cave Prim. Chr. iii. v. 359 Striking them dead upon the place for their notorious couzenage and gross hypocrisie. 1729 Law Serious C. ii. (1732) 17 Do but now find the reason why the generality of men live in this notorious vice. 1807 Med. Jrnl. XVII. 341 His mean subterfuge renders him more contemptible than his notorious untruth. 1839 James Louis XIV, III. 310 Charles's notorious breach of his most solemn engagement. |
† c. quasi-adv. Notoriously. Obs. rare—1.
| 1607 Stat. in Hist. Wakefield Sch. (1892) 62 Notorious negligent in the execution of the office of a Governour. |
5. Noted for some bad practice, quality, etc.; unfavourably known; well known on account of something which is not generally approved of or admired. a. Of persons.
| 1603 Drayton Bar. Wars v. xxix, Such Men these had, to Mischiefe wholly bent, In Villainie notorious for their skill. 1609 B. Jonson Sil. Wom. iv. ii, You notorious stinkardly beareward. 1693 Congreve in Dryden's Juvenal xi. (1726) 162 Rutilus is so notorious grown, That he's the Common Theme of all the Town. 1718 Free-thinker No. 87. 226 A Fifth may be notorious for some scandalous Practice, or vicious Habits. 1837 Thirlwall Greece IV. xxxii. 270 Socrates..became one of the most conspicuous and notorious persons in Athens. 1880 W. Day Racehorse in Training xvi. 156 The celebrated, or as some may be inclined to call her, the notorious, Lady Elizabeth. |
b. Of actions, qualities, facts, etc.
| 1579 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 61 Dislikinge, murmuring,..quippinge notorious or auricular iybinge. 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons Ded. 12 b, To bring to passe..such notorious and deformed effectes amongst the English Nation. 1653 Vaux tr. Godeau's St. Paul 45 The Emperor Tiberius succeeded Augustus, and made his Reign notorious by all..cruelties. a 1721 Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) I. 244 Should our mistakes be never so notorious, You'll have the joy of being more censorious. 1794 Paley Evidences (1825) II. 116 These books were perfectly notorious. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. vii. (1856) 51 Melville Bay, notorious in the annals of the whalers for its many disasters. 1877 Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. v. 54 The influences by which the papal court was determined were already too grossly notorious. |
† 6. Discreditable, disgraceful to one. Obs.—1
| 1666 Wood Life (O.H.S.) II. 96 Wheras it [the pox] was notorious formerly to those that had it, it is now soe common..that they glory of it. |
▪ II. † noˈtorious, a.2 Obs. rare—1.
= notory a.2
| 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 191 And now (it is agreed among themselves) their art shall no more be called the notorious. |