Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by cortesoft 2131 days ago
No, no, no... infamous just means you are so famous you are IN famous.
1 comments

Merriam Webster disagrees: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infamous

Definition of infamous

1: having a reputation of the worst kind : notoriously evil an infamous traitor

2: causing or bringing infamy : DISGRACEFUL an infamous crime

3: convicted of an offense bringing infamy

I think that was a reference to the movie The Three Amigos. The characters misunderstanding the word sent them off on their unintentionally heroic adventure.
Ahh.

I had actually wondered if it could also just mean "famous" (but not necessarily in a bad way) like notorious can but apparently not. I had to look it up to be sure.

Maybe you're thinking of "inflammable," which due to confusion has mostly been shortened to "flammable."
Well at least SOMEONE got the reference!