INFAMOUSNESS
In"fa*mous*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being infamous; infamy.

INFAMY In"fa*my, n.; pl. Infamies. Etym: [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)

Defn: That loss of character, or public disgrace, which a convict incurs, and by which he is at common law rendered incompetent as a witness.

INFANCY
In"fan*cy, n. Etym: [L. infantia: cf. F. enfance. See Infant.]

1. The state or period of being an infant; the first part of life;
early childhood.
The babe yet lies in smiling infancy. Milton.
Their love in early infancy began. Dryden.

2. The first age of anything; the beginning or early period of existence; as, the infancy of an art. The infancy and the grandeur of Rome. Arbuthnot.