repute

American  

[ri-pyoot] / rɪˈpyut /

noun

1. estimation in the view of others; reputation.

   persons of good repute.

2. favorable reputation; good name; public respect.

   Synonyms:

   honor, distinction

   Antonyms:

   dishonor

---

verb (used with object)

reputed, reputing

1. to consider or believe (a person or thing) to be as specified; regard (usually used in the passive).

   He was reputed to be a millionaire.

   Synonyms:

   reckon, deem, hold

repute British  

/ rɪˈpjuːt /

verb

1. (tr; usually passive) to consider (a person or thing) to be as specified

   he is reputed to be intelligent

---

noun

1. public estimation; reputation

   a writer of little repute

Related Words

See credit.

Etymology

Origin of repute

1400–50; late Middle English reputen (v.) < Middle French reputer < Latin reputāre to compute, consider, equivalent to re- re- + putāre to think

Explanation

A person of great or fine repute is someone who's widely known and highly respected. The word has a stuffy feel, so you're better off describing a cellist as being of great repute than, say, a rapper or comedian. Like the words reputation and putative, repute comes from the Latin word putare, which means "consider." And the re? Let's say that the cellist Yo-Yo Ma is widely respected. That means a lot of people consider him to be great. He's considered great not just once but again (and again and again).

Example Sentences

Repute is a somewhat formal word, with the same general sense as reputation.

From English Synonyms and Antonyms With Notes on the Correct Use of Prepositions by Fernald, James Champlin

I had a Recommendation from Paris to an Irish Clergyman, who was a Prependary here, and a Person of Repute.

From Memoirs of Major Alexander Ramkins (1718) by Defoe, Daniel

Strype speaks of it as a "very handsome large Court, with new buildings fit for gentry of Repute."

From The Strand District The Fascination of London by Besant, Walter, Sir

My gracious Lords, Repute me not a blemish to my Sex, In that I strove to cure a desperate evil With a more violent remedy: your lives, Your honours are your own.

From The Laws of Candy Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10) by Beaumont, Francis

Well does the tragic poet exclaim: '"Oh, fond Repute, how many a time and oft Hast them raised high in pride the base-born churl!"

From The Consolation of Philosophy by James, H. R. (Henry Rosher)

Related Words

• renown