Notorious is a word that has a bad reputation due to its association with a lot of undesirable things. This word comes from the late Latin noun Ring tonemeans “information” or “indictment”, hence the word inquisitive mind, “come to know.” It was first used in the 16th century with a neutral meaning “widely known”, but very early on it was used with nouns with an unhealthy meaning — one of the the earliest was the “notorious sinners” combination. Frequent use with nouns of this type colored the later use of the word with pejorative connotations, resulting in the word’s most frequently used meaning, “widely known and unfavorable. .”
The most common meaning of ‘notorious’ is “widely known and unfavorable.” The word has a neutral meaning (“widely known”), but it tends to be colored with pejorative connotations.
… Charlie Gasko turns out to be James “Whitey” Bulger, the notorious Boston gangster, longtime fugitive now serving two life sentences in prison. — Lesley Stahl, speaking on CBS, July 10, 2016
In spite of notorious Always pejorative when associated with a noun intended for an unwanted person, there are instances when the word is applied to people in a playful or witty way:
Design plays a more important role in this series than in any other TV series; show creator Matthew Weiner is a notorious perfectionist and set decorator Claudette Didul has gone to great lengths to ensure that everything… looks perfect from time to time. —Andrew Romano, washington articlesApril 5, 2015
… Alben and I took our pictures, as usual when infamous people leave or arrive in cities. — Harry S. Truman, diary, September 20, 1945
Just as important, the Bucs are a notoriously fast batting team that fiercely struggle with things that run out of speed. —Joe Strauss, Louis Post-DispatchOctober 5, 2013
Note that in each of these non-disparaging examples, the selection of notorious more than famous, famousetc., definitely due to the overtones of the word.
When notorious applied to terms referring to something non-human, it is usually neutral. However, if the weather, a book or a fish is described as notorious—in the absence of a clue to the contrary—the effect of the word would be regrettable.
As we began to chat, Portland’s notoriously wet weather began to create hidden energies around us. —Hari Sreenivasan, speaking on PBS, April 14, 2015
In 1994, Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray published their famous book, The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life. —Ian Tattersall, Natural historyFebruary 2013
Among the many animals here, three thousand species of fish. Some are notorious. We are on a one-of-a-kind fishing expedition to catch piranhas. — Keir Simmons, speaking on NBC News, August 16, 2016
When there is no intended overtone, as is sometimes the case, notorious used as a more emphatic term for famous, famousetc. But even in neutral usage, the term is associated with unfavorable, scandalous and unhealthy colors, its meaning in a way that other words do not.
Blonde wigs and bubble gum can only mean one thing. The infamous Project Runway unique materials challenge where designers create fashion out of what is definitely not trendy. — Savannah Guthrie, speaking on NBC news, September 15, 2016
He’ll smile after knocking someone out with his notoriously fast ball of over 90 mph. — Eyder Peralta, speaking on NPR, September 26, 2016
There are also cases where the meaning depends entirely on the substance that follows the word. in construction notoriousfor example, the meaning appears only after because. The following examples illustrate the “adversely known” meaning of the word.
The NFL, known for penalizing players for changing its strict uniform policy, yesterday announced a one-week amnesty. Week 13 of this NFL season, players will be allowed to wear special shoes as long as they are worn for some reason. — Jared Max, speaking on Fox Network, September 13, 2016
Millennials are known for their low turnout, but their political influence is growing. — Robert Siegel, speaking on NPR, August 22, 2016
The comedian is notorious for pushing back against the authorities. — National MagazineJuly 6, 2015
In the same project, notorious can be used in its “commonly known” sense.
Bass (pike and pickerel) are notorious for feeding around weeds. —Bob McNally, outdoor lifeMay 2011
Sandy Creek fans are known to support the team. —Michael Carvell, Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionDecember 9, 2009
Avery … will be even faster in Edward Jones Dome, which is famous for having the fastest surface in the league. — John McClain, Houston ChronicleApril 27, 2008
Another regular construction is that infamous. In that expression, the word is almost always used in the neutral sense of “commonly known and spoken of”; again, any malicious intent must be provided by the following that thingRarely happens:
Two decades ago, it was well known that family doctors overprescribed antibiotics. — Attorney McFarlane, Colonial era (Victoria, British Columbia), November 29, 2015
Clinton’s taste for spicy food is said to be so well known that flight attendants bring her slices of jalapeño in each dish. —Jennifer Madison, Online IndependenceJuly 15, 2011
Sales at Jos.A Bank have continued to decline since the bank stopped implementing the infamous “buy one get more free” promotion. The sales were so infamous that they were mocked by Saturday Night Live. — Mallory Schlossberg, Business InsiderMarch 10, 2016
As you can see from the examples, most people have no problem handling notorious and be aware of its overtones. All you have to remember is that it always seems to have a certain taste, a certain spiciness, due to its frequent association with undesirable people and things. Even if it has a neutral notation, it still has that signature flavor—but there are ways to tame it.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
