Make Your Point > Archived Issues > NOTORIOUS

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explore the archives: Okay, so, I say notorious is notable's evil twin, but they actually come from different roots: notorious from the Latin for "to know," and notable from the Latin for "note." Still, notable people are generally famous for a good reason; notorious people are famous for a bad reason. That Latin root meaning "to know" gave us not just notorious but also cognition, incognito, recognize, and t____ incog____ or "unknown land." make your point with... "NOTORIOUS" Someone or something notorious is famous for a bad reason. Pronunciation: no TORE ee us Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a notorious thing" or "a notorious person." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was notorious" or "He was notorious.") Other forms: notoriously, notoriety ("no tuh RYE ih tee") How to use it: Talk about notorious people, places, and things--like notorious criminals and notorious cheaters, notorious neighborhoods and notorious schools, notorious rudeness and notorious overspending. You can also say that people, places, and things are notorious for whatever bad thing they have or do: "she's notorious for showing up late," "the neighborhood is notorious for its gang violence," "these prices are notorious for fluctuating wildly." Although notorious things are generally bad, you might use the word lightly for exaggeration or sarcasm: "She's notorious for sneaking off to pay the bill before you get to grab it yourself." examples: Houston may be notorious for its traffic, but you can't beat the Tex-Mex. Although snakes have symbolized evil since Biblical times, do they really deserve that notoriety? study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "notorious" means when you can explain it without saying "infamous" or "disreputable." try it out: Think of something that's been problematic for a long time. Fill in the blanks: "(Something) is notorious for (causing some sort of problem)." Example: "This copier is notorious for jamming." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing with KWIKORD, an addictive, challenging new word game for solo or group play, created by Wayne Ellice.  We're dipping our toes into the game this month, trying some simple challenges first and working our way toward harder tasks. (Check out my interview with the game's creator here, and order your own copy of the full version of KWIKORD here.) You'll see a sample answer to each puzzle the following day. Enjoy! Yesterday, you took the letters HLNSEOOU and arranged them into as many 2-, 3-, or 4-letter words as possible within a 4x4 grid. Many solutions were possible. Here are two: Try that once more today with the letters NPRSAEOU. Draw three vertical and three horizontal lines on some scrap paper, and go for it! review today's word: 1. One opposite of NOTORIOUS is A. ANONYMOUS B. AMUSING C. ASTRONOMICAL 2. We found out from Yelp how notoriously _____ the service is at that restaurant. A. friendly B. slow C. efficient Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. B