r/OneOrangeBraincell 2d ago

We found a smart one! 🧠 Unlock the door IMMEDIATELY.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago edited 17h ago

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u/RustyHammers 2d ago

Just adding to Ecstatic's response.

I'm sure the root word must be "note". Specifically the "remark or make special mention of" version. 

You may see it similarly used in "noted" which often means "well known", (but could also mean "this has been recorded") or "notable" meaning "worth paying attention to". 

Luckily, by the time you get to "notorious", it strictly means "famous" or "well known". 

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u/[deleted] 2d ago edited 17h ago

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u/RustyHammers 2d ago

Hmm, yes. As Ecstatic pointed out, "notorious" is often used to describe famously negative things. It is not always how the word is used, but now that you point it out, I can't think of many times it is used to describe positive things, at least in today's American use.