1. Not fallible; not capable of erring; entirely exempt from liability
to mistake; unerring; inerrable. Dryden.
2. Not liable to fail, deceive, or disappoint; indubitable; sure;
certain; as, infallible evidence; infallible success; an infallible
remedy.
To whom also he showed himself alive, after his passion, by many
infallible proofs.
Acts i. 3.
3. (R. C. Ch.) Incapable of error in defining doctrines touching faith
or morals. See Papal infallibility, under Infallibility.
In*fal"li*ble*ness, n. The state or quality of being infallible;
infallibility. Bp. Hall.
In*fal"li*bly, adv. In an infallible manner; certainly; unfailingly;
unerringly. Blair.
In*fame" (?), v. t. [L. infamare, fr. infamis infamous: cf. F. infamer,
It. infamare. See Infamous.] To defame; to make infamous. [Obs.]
Milton.
Livia is infamed for the poisoning of her husband.
Bacon.
In"fa*mize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infamized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Infamizing (?).] To make infamous; to defame. [R.] Coleridge.
In"fa*mous (?), a. [Pref. in- not + famous: cf. L. infamis. See
Infamy.]
1. Of very bad report; having a reputation of the worst kind; held in
abhorrence; guilty of something that exposes to infamy; base;
notoriously vile; detestable; as, an infamous traitor; an infamous
perjurer.
False errant knight, infamous, and forsworn.
Spenser.
2. Causing or producing infamy; deserving detestation; scandalous to
the last degree; as, an infamous act; infamous vices; infamous
corruption. Macaulay.
3. (Law) Branded with infamy by conviction of a crime; as, at common
law, an infamous person can not be a witness.
4. Having a bad name as being the place where an odious crime was
committed, or as being associated with something detestable; hence,
unlucky; perilous; dangerous. "Infamous woods." P. Fletcher.
Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds.
Milton.
The piny shade More infamous by cursed Lycaon made.
Dryden.
Syn. -- Detestable; odious; scandalous; disgraceful; base; vile;
shameful; ignominious.
In"fa*mous*ly, adv. In an infamous manner or degree; scandalously;
disgracefully; shamefully.
The sealed fountain of royal bounty which had been infamously
monopolized and huckstered.
Burke.
In"fa*mous*ness, n. The state or quality of being infamous; infamy.
In"fa*my (?), n.; pl. Infamies (#). [L. infamia, fr. infamis infamous;
pref. in- not + fama fame: cf. F. infamie. See Fame.]
1. Total loss of reputation; public disgrace; dishonor; ignominy;
indignity.
The afflicted queen would not yield, and said she would not . . .
submit to such infamy.
Bp. Burnet.
2. A quality which exposes to disgrace; extreme baseness or vileness;
as, the infamy of an action.
3. (Law) That loss of character, or public disgrace, which a convict
incurs, and by which he is at common law rendered incompetent as a
witness.