notorious

****************************************************************
The dictionary of the future has arrived! Check out the 3-in-1
format of the Eleventh Edition of our Collegiate Dictionary!
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/book.pl?c11.htm&1
****************************************************************

The Word of the Day for September 14 is: 

notorious  \noh-TOR-ee-us\   adjective
     : generally known and talked of; especially : widely and unfavorably known 

Example sentence:
     That particular model of car is notorious for quickly developing a number 
of irritating mechanical problems.

Did you know?
     "Notorious" was adopted into English in the 16th century from Medieval 
Latin "notorius," itself from Late Latin's noun "notorium," meaning 
"information" or "indictment." "Notorium," in turn, derives from the Latin verb 
"noscere," meaning "to come to know." Although "notorious" can be a synonym of 
"famous," meaning simply "widely known," it long ago developed the additional 
implication of someone or something unpleasant or undesirable. _The Book of 
Common Prayer Offices_ of 1549 includes the first known use of the unfavorable 
meaning in print, referring to "notorious synners."





You Are Subscribed As: gclw-mw-wod7@xxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe, change your e-mail address or to subscribe to the html
version of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, featuring audio
pronunciations, please visit:

http://www.startsampling.com/sm/wod/changeofaddress.iphtml

(c) 2006 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Merriam-Webster, Inc.
47 Federal Street
P.O. Box 281
Springfield, MA 01102