Lewis & Short

fāmōsus, a, um, adj. [fama], much talked of (well or ill), i. e. famed, celebrated.

  1. 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.
  2. II. In a bad sense.
    1. 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.
    2. 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. 10; 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.