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"Notorious" does mean "famous", but it carries the added implication of being famous for being bad. I suspect the meaning has changed over time, just like "awful" used to mean "awe-inspiring".

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I think you mean awesome? Or have I been wrong all along?

"Awesome" still carries a positive meaning. "Awful" changed from being a synonym for "wonderful" to a synonym for "terrible".

Ivan the Terrible was originally Ivan the Awful, as in inspiring awe rather than terror.

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