infamous = 'talked-about; popular'

[Joel S. Berson]

At 11/29/2010 03:05 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>A sense weaker than even 'famous' or 'celebrated' - at least as those words
>are traditionally used:

But does this example have the more complex notion of "famous or
celebrated, but still disreputable"?  (I am reminded of the 18th
century American con man Tom Bell, who was called "the famous or
rather infamous Tom Bell" in a 1743 Boston newspaper.)

Joel


>http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/29/dr-drew-pinsky-to-host-new-hln-show/?hpt=T2
>  :
>
>
>"The good doctor is certainly no stranger to television. In addition to the
>new show on HLN, his latest edition of  'Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew' will
>premiere on December 1 on VH1. This infamous reality show brings together
>cast of celebrities seeking treatment for a variety of addictions. The new
>season will feature Rachel Uchitel, well known for her connection with the
>Tiger Woods scandal, as well as reality TV judge and original supermodel
>Janice Dickinson".
>
>JL
>
>
>--
>"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org