On Sun, Jan 27, 2002 at 07:09:21PM -0500, David H. Adler wrote:
> On Sat, Jan 26, 2002 at 02:16:02PM -0800, Paul Makepeace wrote:
> >
> > Notoriety in English has a negative connotation.
>
> It does? Are you sure you're not thinking of "notorious[ness]"? Probably
> the same root, but, IMO somewhat different in meaning.
Asking three dictionaries (one of which is humorous), they all seem to
concur:
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Notoriety \No`to*ri"e*ty\, n. [Cf. F. notori['e]t['e]. See
{Notorious}.]
The quality or condition of being notorious; the state of
being generally or publicly known; -- commonly used in an
unfavorable sense; as, the notoriety of a crime.
They were not subjects in their own nature so exposed
to public notoriety. --Addison.
From WordNet (r) 1.6 [wn]:
notoriety
n : the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality
[syn: {ill fame}]
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
NOTORIETY, n. The fame of one's competitor for public honors. The
kind of renown most accessible and acceptable to mediocrity. A
Jacob's-ladder leading to the vaudeville stage, with angels ascending
and descending.
Merriam Webster says "the quality or state of being notorious",
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=notorious
(Sorry, didn't have US$550 for the OED check...)
Paul
--
Paul Makepeace ....................................... http://paulm.com/
"What is the reason where? A childish retort."
-- http://paulm.com/toys/surrealism/
