Does the words infamous have a root?

Yes, the word "infamous" has a root. It comes from the Latin word "infamis," which means "not speaking."

Here's how it evolved:

* "infamis" (Latin): Originally, "infamis" referred to someone who was not allowed to speak in court or in public.

* "infam(i)a" (Latin): This form of the word referred to the state of being "infamis," meaning "disgrace" or "bad reputation."

* "infame" (Old French): This is the French adaptation of the Latin word, and it also meant "disgrace" or "bad reputation."

* "infamous" (English): This word adopted from the Old French "infame" and entered English around the 14th century.

So, while "infamous" doesn't directly translate to "not speaking," the root of the word highlights the original concept of being silenced or excluded due to a bad reputation, which eventually evolved to its modern meaning of "being widely known for something negative."