Webster's English Dictionary

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famous

fa.mous \'fa--m*s\ aj [ME, fr. MF fameux, fr. L famosus, fr. fama fame] 1a: 
   widely known  1b: honored for achievement  2: EXCELLENT, FIRST-RATE 
   ISTINGUISHED, EMINENT, ILLUSTRIOUS: FAMOUS implies little more than the 
   fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known; RENOWNED 
   implies more glory and acclamation, CELEBRATED more notice and attention 
   esp. in print; NOTED suggests well-deserved public attention; NOTORIOUS 
   frequently adds to FAMOUS an implication of questionableness or evil; 
   DISTINGUISHED implies acknowledged excellence or superiority; EMINENT 
   implies even greater conspicuousness for outstanding quality or character; 
   ILLUSTRIOUS stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person 
   - fa.mous.ly av SYN syn RENOWNED, CELEBRATED, NOTED, NOTORIOUS, D