fame

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The state of being well known to many people.

   The young singer rose to fame almost overnight.

2. 2
   noun

   A good public reputation.

   The restaurant owes its fame to its excellent service.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Fame came into Middle English from Latin fama, “report” or “fame.” Its early meanings included both celebrity and reputation, the latter surviving in expressions such as house of ill fame.

From Middle English fame, from Old French fame (“celebrity, renown”), itself borrowed from Latin fāma (“talk, rumor, report, reputation”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂-meh₂, from *bʰeh₂- (“to speak, say, tell”). Cognate with Ancient Greek φήμη (phḗmē, “talk”). Related also to Latin for (“speak, say”, verb), Old English bōian (“to boast”), Old English bēn (“prayer, request”), Old English bannan (“to summon, command, proclaim”). More at ban. Displaced native Old English hlīsa.

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External links

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