famousadj.
/ˈfeɪməs/, U.S. /ˈfeɪməs/ 1. Celebrated in fame or public report; much talked about, renowned. Const. for. Also †famous of renown.
a. of persons, their attributes, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > [adjective]
mereeOE
athelOE
couthOE
brightOE
namecundc1175
outnumenc1175
noble?c1225
ketec1275
sheenc1275
tirfulc1275
glorious13..
losedc1305
of great renownc1330
glorifieda1340
worthly or worthy in wonea1350
clearc1374
nameda1382
solemna1387
renomeda1393
famous?a1400
renomé?a1400
renowneda1400
notedc1400
of (great, high, etc.) name?c1430
celebrate?1440
namely1440
famosec1449
honourable?c1450
notedc1450
parent?c1450
glorificatec1460
heroical?a1475
insignite?a1475
magnific1490
well-fameda1492
exemie1497
singular1497
preclare1503
magnificential1506
laureate1508
illustre?a1513
illustred1512
magnificent1513
preclared1530
grand1542
celebrated1549
heroicc1550
lustrantc1550
magnifical1557
illustrate1562
expectablec1565
ennobled1571
laurel1579
nominated1581
famosed1582
perspicuous1582
big1587
famed1595
uplifted1596
illustrious1598
celebrousc1600
luculent1600
celebrious1604
fameful1605
famoused1606
renownful1606
bruitful1609
eminent1611
insignious1620
clarousa1636
far-fameda1640
top1647
grandee1648
signalized1652
noscible1653
splendid1660
voiced1661
gloried1671
laurelled1683
distinguished1714
distinct1756
lustrious1769
trumpeted1775
spiry1825
world-famous1832
galactic1902
tycoonish1958
mega1987
?a1400 Morte Arth. 3304 Ffamows in fferre londis, and floure of alle kynges.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 6421 At mailros boisill', a famus man.
1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII 91 His moste noble fadre of famouse memorye.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xix. 196 The famoust Queene that euer was.
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 19 The..Councel of Nicæa the first and famousest of all the rest.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 102 The..old Stallion..Famous in his Youth for force and speed. View more context for this quotation
1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. III. 210 The body of this famous cardinal lies at Rome.
1832 W. Irving Alhambra II. 154 The famous Italian singer Farinelli.
1833 Ld. Tennyson Blackbird 16 The melody that made thee famous once, when young.
b. of things.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > [adjective] > specifically of things or actions
famousc1385
noblec1390
undoubtedc1460
illustrious?1566
blazing1576
brilliant1739
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Hypsipyle. 1440 This famous tresore.
14.. Epiph. in Tundale's Vis. (1843) 103 To see this ster most famows of renown.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xxii. 386 There also was hir famousest Temple.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 255 Steeneberg, famous of old for a Harbour.
1674 R. Boyle Excellency Theol. i. iii. 83 The famous answer given by an excellent Philosopher.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. ii. 16 This Island of Madera..is famous..for its excellent wines.
1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 4 A train band captain eke was he Of famous London town.
1850 J. McCosh Method Divine Govt. (ed. 2) ii. i. 124 The three famous laws of Kepler.
1868 Queen Victoria Jrnl. 35 The stream of which [the Tummel] is famous for salmon.
c. famous last words (cf. word n. and int. Phrases 3c(a)): a remark or prediction likely to be proved wrong by events.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [noun] > concluding word or act > words likely to be proved wrong
famous last words1948
1948 E. Partridge et al. Dict. Forces' Slang 67 Famous last words, a catch-phrase rejoinder to such fatuous statements as ‘Flak's [sc. Anti-aircraft fire is] not really dangerous’.
1948 Shell Aviation News CXVII. 9/1 Leopoldville is easy to find because you cannot miss the Congo River. (Famous last words!)
a1961 J. Cannan All is Discovered (1962) iv. 89 ‘Why... It's nothing.’ ‘Famous last words.’
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [adjective]
faireOE
wortheOE
worthlyeOE
worthfulOE
menskful?c1225
toldc1275
digne1297
of price?a1300
worshiply1340
worthya1350
menska1375
thriftyc1374
worshipfula1375
worthilya1375
honesta1382
honourablec1384
unshamedc1384
sada1387
of reputationc1390
well-nameda1393
reverent1398
worthy (worshipful, wise) in wanea1400
celebrable?c1400
honouredc1400
worshipablec1425
substantialc1449
undefameda1450
unreviled?1457
honorousa1500
reputed?1532
well-thought-ona1533
well-spoken1539
credible1543
undespised?1548
imitable1550
famous1555
undistained1565
undefame1578
untarred1579
well-reputed1583
unsoiledc1592
dishonourless1595
well-deemed1595
nameworthy1598
regardful1600
indisgraced1606
credenta1616
undishonoureda1616
unscandalized1618
unscandalous1618
unslandered1622
untainted1627
dignousa1636
undisparaged1636
considerable1641
unbranded1641
glorifiable1651
reputable1671
unsullied1743
unstigmatized1778
undisgraced1812
unstained1863
well-thought-of1865
uncompromised1882
scandal-proof1904
cred1987
1555 in Balfour Practicks (1754) 145 Twa or thré of his nichtbouris, famous and unsuspect men.
1683 Act Justiciary 8 Aug. in R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. (1721) II. 309 For proving of this, adduced several famous witnesses.
a. In a bad or neutral sense: Notorious. Obsolete exc. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > infamy or notoriety > [adjective]
infamousc1380
unfamousc1380
famousa1425
infamed1520
skirec1540
notorious1549
infame1555
stigmatical1591
unsilent1597
exemplifieda1637
flagrant1706
flagitious1741
dreaded1810
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Matt. xxvii. 16 He hadde tho a famous man boundun, that was seid Barrabas.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) i. iv. 48 Menacrates and Menas famous Pyrates. View more context for this quotation
1680 R. Morden Geogr. Rectified (1685) 452 That famous infamous English Rebel Stuckley.
1691 J. Tillotson Serm. (1704) II. (1 John iv. 9) 460 The Death of the Cross..was the Death of famous [later edd. infamous] Malefactours.
1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. iv. 160 The Infamously famous Count Julian.
1817 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 22 Mar. 367 A famous falsehood, which has appeared in the Morning Post.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. v. ii. 285 Make the name of Mountain famous-infamous to all times and lands.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > [adjective] > specifically of words or writings
slanderous1429
slanderful1453
injurious1484
famous1543
disgraceful1605
scandalousa1616
libellous1619
defamable1918
1543 in Balfour Practicks (1754) 537 That na maner of man mak, write, or imprent ony..writingis..famous or sclanderous to ony persoun..under the pane of death.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie i. xxiv. 38 Vntrue and famous libels.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > usual or ordinary
commona1325
naturalc1390
ordinarc1400
ordinary?a1425
ilk-day's1488
naturely?c1510
famous1528
familiar1533
vulgar1553
workaday1554
modern1591
tralatitious1653
commonish1792
workday1808
everyday1813
bread and butter1822
normal1843
common-seeming1857
tralatician1893
wake-a-day1893
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > of no special quality > commonplace
commona1382
ordinarc1400
plainc1430
famosec1449
famous1528
vulgar1580
ordinary1590
undistinguished1600
indistinguished1608
commonplace1616
unremarkable1628
irremarkable1635
bread and cheese1643
incurious1747
ordinary-looking1798
routine1826
indistinctive1846
common-seeming1857
bread-and-butterish1893
bread-and-buttery1893
timeworn1901
day-to-day1919
vanilla1972
standard1977
1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. B iv Coler vnnaturall..is called famous or notable: by reason hit is ofte engendred.
1672 R. Baxter Church told of Bagshaw's Scandals ii. 9 Analogous..words..are to be taken in the most common or famous sense.
1680 R. Morden Geogr. Rectified (1685) 43 Their mention is very frequent and famous during the race of the French Kings of the Caroline Line.
1727–44 J. Lewis Life Pecock 17 Taking the word preach in its most famous signification.
5. Used (chiefly colloquially) as an emphatic expression of approval: Excellent, grand, magnificent, splendid, ‘capital’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
1695 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) V. 223 Famous & very chargeable Fireworkes.
1798 R. Southey Battle of Blenheim 36 ‘But every body said’, quoth he, ‘That 'twas a famous victory’.
1800 M. Edgeworth Waste Not in Parent's Assistant (ed. 3) V. 136 There's to be the most famous doings, that ever were heard of upon the Downs here..Lady Diana Sweepstakes, you know, is a famous rider, and archer.
1836 C. P. Traill Backwoods of Canada 141 My Irish maid..soon roused up famous fires, and set the house in order.
1890 Spectator 6 Sept. 308/2 It is a famous place for a fair.
1966 Times 9 Nov. 1/1 Both parties..were ready to claim a famous victory in the early hours of tomorrow.
Draft additions April 2002
famous for fifteen minutes and variants [now used allusively after the phrase used by Andy Warhol in quot. 1968] : briefly famous or notorious, before fading back into obscurity; cf. fifteen minutes n. at fifteen adj. and n. Additions.
ΚΠ
1968 A. Warhol Andy Warhol (Exhib. Catal., Moderna Museet, Stockholm) 12 In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes.
1977 Washington Post 30 Sept. (Weekend section) 21/3 Maybe heroes are destined to remain brief flashes in our lives, as Andy Warhol once put it, with everyone getting to be famous for 15 minutes.
1991 Columbia (Columbia Univ.) Summer 26/1 A worse problem is the feeding frenzy in the industry whereby the latest famous-for-fifteen-minutes TV celebrities and politicians and entrepreneurs are paid exorbitant advances for what are essentially non-books.
1994 W. Gaddis Frolic of his Own 369 Good God talk about being famous for five minutes the Pulitzer Prize is a gimcrack out of journalism school you wrap the fish in tomorrow.
2002 Toronto Star (Nexis) 6 Feb. a25 So why the enduring appeal [of the British monarchy]? It's real celebrity at a time when anyone can be famous for fifteen minutes.
Draft additions April 2002
famous for being famous: famous despite having little memorable, recognizable, or distinct reason for such fame; celebrated or admired solely on account of being in the public eye.
ΚΠ
1979 Washington Post 25 Jan. c1/2 Lauren Bacall, more than anyone, is not famous for any particular accomplishment. Indeed, for a whole younger generation, she is famous for being famous.
1990 A. Tomlinson Consumption, Identity & Style ix. 172 By then Frankie had reached the stage of being famous for being famous.
1996 Columbia Journalism Rev. (Nexis) May–June 8 Today, thanks to television, reporters seem ubiquitous. They have faces. They have become ‘personalities’, often more famous for being famous than for their work.
2001 Evening Times (Glasgow) (Electronic ed.) 16 Mar. Our thirst for fame these days is so all encompassing that we have a new category of celebrity—those who are famous for being famous.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† famousv.
/ˈfeɪməs/, U.S. /ˈfeɪməs/ Obsolete exc. archaic.† 2. To cause to be generally reputed for. Obsolete.
1. transitive. To make famous.† a. To render celebrated, earn celebrity for. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > making famous > make famous or celebrate [verb (transitive)]
enluminec1386
famea1400
bruitc1487
renowna1500
celebrate1522
specifya1525
illustrate1530
illustre1530
resoundc1550
blaze1552
blazon1553
ennoble1565
repeat1582
famose1590
famous1590
royalize1590
emblazon1592
emblaze1596
concelebrate1599
blazonize1614
laurizea1618
lustre1627
befame1669
sound1711
belion1837
lionize1837
1590 T. Lodge Rosalynde: Euphues Golden Legacie sig. C2v To famous that house..shewe thy resolution to be peremptorie.
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 508 This Empire was famoused..by an eminent King.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses I. 465 Men..worthily famoused on this side, and beyond the Sea.
b. Of a writer, etc.: To celebrate (archaic).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > honour > give honour to [verb (transitive)]
wortheOE
i-worthOE
menskc1225
athelec1275
aworthyc1275
honoura1325
furtherc1374
honesta1382
worship1389
gloryc1400
dignifya1530
worthy1532
endue1565
enhonour1571
to do (a person or thing) the honour?1572
deign1579
honorify1606
famous1622
blazon1815
to do a person proud1819
1622 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman ix. 74 The wooden doue of Archytas, so famoused..by Agellius.
1873 J. R. Lowell Among my Bks. 2nd Ser. 306 The heroic uncle, whose deeds..were properly famoused by the boy Homer.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > cause to be reputed for [verb (transitive)]
famous1615
1615 T. Adams White Deuill (ed. 4) 75 Our eldest: whom we haue famoused for our sole and intire heires.
a1645 W. Browne Circe & Ulysses (1954) i. 8 From whose continuall store such pooles are fed As in the land for seas are famosed.
Derivatives
ˈfamoused adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > [adjective]
mereeOE
athelOE
couthOE
brightOE
namecundc1175
outnumenc1175
noble?c1225
ketec1275
sheenc1275
tirfulc1275
glorious13..
losedc1305
of great renownc1330
glorifieda1340
worthly or worthy in wonea1350
clearc1374
nameda1382
solemna1387
renomeda1393
famous?a1400
renomé?a1400
renowneda1400
notedc1400
of (great, high, etc.) name?c1430
celebrate?1440
namely1440
famosec1449
honourable?c1450
notedc1450
parent?c1450
glorificatec1460
heroical?a1475
insignite?a1475
magnific1490
well-fameda1492
exemie1497
singular1497
preclare1503
magnificential1506
laureate1508
illustre?a1513
illustred1512
magnificent1513
preclared1530
grand1542
celebrated1549
heroicc1550
lustrantc1550
magnifical1557
illustrate1562
expectablec1565
ennobled1571
laurel1579
nominated1581
famosed1582
perspicuous1582
big1587
famed1595
uplifted1596
illustrious1598
celebrousc1600
luculent1600
celebrious1604
fameful1605
famoused1606
renownful1606
bruitful1609
eminent1611
insignious1620
clarousa1636
far-fameda1640
top1647
grandee1648
signalized1652
noscible1653
splendid1660
voiced1661
gloried1671
laurelled1683
distinguished1714
distinct1756
lustrious1769
trumpeted1775
spiry1825
world-famous1832
galactic1902
tycoonish1958
mega1987
1606 J. Ford Honor Triumphant sig. C2v That famoused Trophey.
1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 50 Men famoused for vertue.
ˈfamousing n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > making famous > [noun]
celebration1553
celebrating1573
renowning1591
famousing1609
lionism1835
lionizing1837
lionization1841
1609 S. Rowlands Famous Hist. Guy Earle of Warwick 5 We toyl so much in other Nations praise, That we neglect the famousing of our own.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.c1385
v.1590