reputation
(rɛpjuːˈteɪʃən)
Also 4–6 reputacion(e, 4–5 -cioun, 5 -syoun, 6 -cyon; 4–6 reputatioun, 6 -tyon, etc.
[ad. L. reputātiōn-em computation, consideration, n. of action f. reputāre to repute. Cf. F. réputation (15th c.).]
† 1. a. Opinion, supposition; also, the opinion or view of one about something. Obs. rare.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 255 Ȝif þei seie þat þei assoyle, þei speke by reputacioun, and nouȝt bi wytynge ne bi trowynge. 1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII, c. 12 They..traytorously beleeued in their hartes, that the kinge..was no lenger rightfull king of this realme, in the reputacion of almightie god. |
† b. Account or estimation of a thing. Obs. rare.
| 1563 Homilies ii. Idolatry iii. (1859) 253 They seem to take the multitude for ‘vile souls’..of whose loss or safe⁓guard no reputation is to be had. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage iii. v. (1614) 264 Such reputation haue they of this forme, which they call a Prayer.., That [etc.]. |
2. The common or general estimate of a person with respect to character or other qualities; the relative estimation or esteem in which a person or thing is held. In phrases: † a. in (or of) reputation. In later use applied to titles given by courtesy. Obs. (Cf. 3 b.)
| c 1386 Chaucer Pard. T. 274 He is, as by commune opinion, Yholde the lasse in reputacion. c 1440 Partonope 7370* What they be of condicioun And how they be of reputacioun. c 1440 Gesta Rom. xlv. 176 (Harl. MS.), He shall be in Reputacion as a fool. 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 344 How chances it they trauaile? their residence both in reputation and profit was better both wayes. 1642 W. Bird Mag. Honor 165 There are other Lords in reputation and appellation, who neverthelesse are not de jure. 1677 Logan in Blome's Guillim (1679) ii. 75 Ladies in Reputation. |
b. to be (have, hold, or † take) in (or † at) no, great, etc., reputation. Now rare.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pard. T. 298 For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun At no value or reputacioun. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) V. 451 Wherefore ȝitte..the consuetude of Britons is to have as in noo reputacion the promise of Ynglische men. 14.. Why I can't be a nun 216 in E.E.P. (1862) 143 There was a lady, that hyȝ[t] dame pride; In grete reputacion they her toke. 1535 Coverdale 1 Sam. xviii. 30 Dauid behaued him selfe more wysely..: so that his name was in greate reputacion. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 264 b, As for the saied Cilicians, he had [them] in so vile reputacion, that [etc.]. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iii. x. §34 Since rhetoric..is publicly taught, and has always been had in great reputation. 1704 Swift T. Tub ii, They..fell in love with the Ladies, but especially three, who about that time were in chief Reputation. 1788 Reid Aristotle's Log. ii. §2. 31 The Ramean divisions were in no small reputation about two hundred years ago. |
c. of no, great, small, etc., reputation.
| 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. xxxvii. 84 Oftyme suche maystres as ben of lest reputacion ben mooste necessary. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 458 The realme of Fraunce that day susteynyd such confusyon..by people and men of no reputacion as archers. 1553 Latimer Serm. Lord's Prayer Wks. (Parker Soc.) II. 3 It is a word of much importance and great reputation. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. iii. 6 While other men, of slender reputation Put forth their Sonnes, to seeke preferment out. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. i. x. (1674) 13 That trade was..but of small reputation to him that used it. 1827 Scott Surg. Dau. i, He was a man..of such reputation in the medical world, that [etc.]. 1886 Ruskin Præterita I. 427 Of some literary reputation. |
3. The condition, quality, or fact, of being highly regarded or esteemed; credit, note, or distinction; also, respectability, good report. a. of reputation. (Usually attached to a n.)
| c 1375 St. Augustin 1020 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 79/1 Rihtwys men in þis liuyng Schul not beo of reputacion But raþur euer beo put adoun. 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 661 Ish, signifieth a man of reputation. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. vii. 37 The women of reputation weare..damask or other rich silkes. 1773 Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. ii. i, But in the company of women of reputation I never saw such an idiot. 1784 J. Potter Virtuous Villages II. 58 My honest endeavours to live a life of reputation. 1851 Hussey Papal Power iii. 124 This..was answered by a writer of reputation at that time. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 368, I have seen men of reputation..behaving in the strangest manner. |
b. In other prepositional phrases, esp. in reputation. (Cf. 2 a.)
| a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) B iij b, The auncient sages were holden in reputacion, bycause there were fewe teachers and many lerners. 1567 Triall Treas. (1850) 35 If you desire to enjoy me at your will, My sister you must haue in reputation still. 1662 Evelyn Chalcogr. Table, When they began to be in reputation. 1741 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. IV. 543 They carried on the Publick affairs with Reputation. 1799 S. Turner Anglo-Sax. (1836) I. iv. v. 295 He is represented to have..passed the remainder of his life in reputation and justice. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. i. 307 Mr. Hastings had ascended with reputation through the several stages of the Company's service. 1858 Buckle Civiliz. (1869) II. v. 219 Morellet who was then high in reputation. |
c. In other constructions.
| 1549 Chaloner Erasm. on Folly F iij, Shame, reproch, losse of reputacion,..maie do the as much hurt as thou felist theim. 1598 R. Barckley Felic. Man (1631) 623 Some hunt after honour, others after riches and reputation. 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 21 The living may be Tenants at will to reputation; but it is the possession of the dead. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iii. x. §6 To this Abuse..Logick and the liberal Sciences..have given reputation. 1728 Young Love Fame iii. 197 Some nymphs sell reputation; others buy. 1781 Cowper Table-t. 520 Thus reputation is a spur to wit. 1822 Hazlitt Table-t. Ser. ii. xvi. (1869) 340, I have said all reputation is hazardous, hard to win, and harder to keep. 1861 Geo. Eliot Silas M. i, If he had any reputation for knowledge or showed any skill in handicraft. |
d. With a and pl. Also, † a source of honour and credit (obs.); a person of note or distinction.
| 1653 Nicholas in N. Papers (Camden) II. 26 The cheerfull contribution of the Emperor..is of excellent Example..and a very great honour and reputation to his Majesty's cause. 1685 Gracian's Courtier's Orac. 162 Nothing but truth can give a true Reputation. a 1704 T. Brown Eng. Sat. Wks. 1730 I. 25 The Reflections are beautiful and give a just reputation to their Author. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. vi. 200 It was..no small reputation to the men, that they should in general refrain from indulging themselves. 1826 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) II. x. 234 A real impression has been made, and a reputation of the highest order established. 1852 Thackeray Esmond iii. ii, To achieve a great reputation for learning. 1870 Disraeli Lothair xxxi, That is Baron Gozelius, one of our great reputations. |
4. The honour or credit of a particular person or thing; one's good name, good report, or fame in general. † on reputation: see go-down 1.
| 1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 9 To recouer theyr honour and reputacion diminished by the same. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 148 The yong man..to save the reputation of the Virgin, confessed, that he came to rob the house. 1674 Govt. Tongue 40 This Vice..seems to have maintained not only it's Empire, but it's reputation too. 1739 Dunkin Let. 25 Apr. in Swift's Lett. (1768) IV. 229 His gracious endeavours to raise my reputation and fortune. 1769 Junius Lett. iii. (1788) 44 You feel, as you ought to do, for the reputation of your friend. 1842 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) III. ix. 132 The young artist who under the name of ‘Phiz’ has so much aided Mr. Dickens's reputation. 1858 Buckle Civiliz. (1869) II. i. 31 The reputation of the state was the first consideration. |
b. With a and pl. Someone's good name, etc.
| 1712–14 Pope Rape Lock iii. 16 A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes; At ev'ry word a reputation dies. 1781 Cowper Truth 163 She..Laughs at the reputations she has torn. 1841 Emerson Turner Ess. (1904) 43/2 The reputations that were great and inaccessible change and tarnish. |
5. The estimation, credit, or ascription of being or possessing something.
| 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 253 That Chylham Castle had aunciently the reputation of an Honour, appeareth by a Note. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. xii. 58 That which taketh away the reputation of Wisedome. a 1679 ― Rhet. i. v. (1681) 9 Glory, Which is the reputation of Vertue. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 117 ¶4 The Knight told me, that this very old Woman had the Reputation of a Witch all over the Country. 1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley iii. 48 It will do no good to remove the chest, now that I have the reputation of having one. 1873 Black Pr. Thule xxi, He had the reputation of being able to get through his work thoroughly. |