different between scandalous vs infamous

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin scandalosus, via French scandaleuse; as if scandal + -ous.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?skænd?l?s/

Adjective

scandalous (comparative more scandalous, superlative most scandalous)

1. Wrong, immoral, causing a scandal
   • 1884, Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

     The thing made a big stir in the town, too, and a good many come out flatfooted and said it was scandalous to separate the mother and the children that way.

2. Malicious, defamatory.
   • 1592, Thomas Kyd, The Spanish Tragedie

     These be the scandalous reports of such / As loves not me, and hate my lord too much.

   • 1887, Marie Corelli, Thelma

     I always disregard gossip--it is generally scandalous, and seldom true.
3. Outrageous; exceeding reasonable limits.

Derived terms

• scandalously
• scandalousness

Translations

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin infamosus, from Latin infamis. Displaced native Old English unhl?sful.

Pronunciation

• enPR: ?n?f?-m?s, IPA^(key): /??nf?m?s/

Adjective

infamous (comparative more infamous, superlative most infamous)

1. Having a bad reputation, disreputable; notoriously bad, unpleasant or evil; widely known, especially for something bad.

   He was an infamous traitor.

   He was an infamous perjurer.
2. Causing infamy; disgraceful.

   This infamous deed tarnishes all involved.

3. (Britain, historical) Subject to a judicial punishment that deprived the infamous person of certain rights; this included a prohibition against holding public office, exercising the franchise, receiving a public pension, serving on a jury, or giving testimony in a court of law.

Derived terms

• infamously
• infamousness
• infamy

Translations

References

• Oxford English Dictionary