I.much talked of (well or ill), i. e. famed, celebrated.
I. In a good sense, famous, renowned (not ante-Aug.): “famosae mortis amor,” Hor. A. P. 469: “mors Junii Blaesi,” Tac. H. 3, 38: “vir secundis adversisque juxta famosus,” id. ib. 1, 10: “urbs (Hierosolyma),” id. ib. 5, 2 init.: “equi,” Suet. Calig. 19: “victoria,” Flor. 3, 7, 6 Duk.; App. M. 11, p. 267: “causa (with pulchra),” Plin. Ep. 6, 23, 1; 2, 11, 1; 9, 13, 11.—Sup.: “templum,” Vulg. 2 Macc. 2, 23.—
II. In a bad sense.
A. Infamous, notorious (class.): qui etiam me miserum famosum facit flagitiis suis, Plaut. Fragm. ap. Non. 305, 28: me ad famosas vetuit mater accedere, i. e. meretrices, Poët. ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 68, 277; cf. Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 306, 5 (Rep. 4, 6 ed. Mos.): “famosam veneficiis Martinam,” Tac. A. 3, 7; Cato ap. Gell. 9, 12, 7; cf.: et formosus homo fuit et famosus, Lucil. ap. Non. 305, 31: “famosa impudensque largitio regis,” Sall. J. 15, 5: “Hymen,” Ov. H. 9, 134 al.—Esp. law t. t., without reputation, Cod. 5, 40, 9; cf. infamia.—
B. Transf., actively, defamatory, slanderous, scandalous (perh. not ante-Aug.): “cognitionem de famosis libellis tractavit,” libels, Tac. A. 1, 72: “probris,” id. ib. 11, 25: “delationibus,” id. ib. 4, 41; so, “libelli,” Suet. Aug. 55; cf.: “de injuriis et libellis famosis,” Dig. 46, tit. 46; Cod. Th. 9, 34, 7; Cod. Just. 9, 36, 1: “carmen,” a lampoon, pasquinade, Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 31: “epigrammata,” Suet. Caes. 73.—Sup., App. Mag. p. 324; Spart. Hadr. 15.—Adv.: fāmōse (acc. to I.), with fame or glory (post-class. and very rare), Aur. Vict. Caes. 20 med.—Comp.: “morbum famosius curare,” Tert. adv. Marc. 1, 22.
