A definition does no good if it uses a very near synonym in the definition. For example, we define 'nefarious' as infamous by way of being extremely wicked. The words 'nefarious' and 'infamous' are very nearly the same in meaning; so if anyone is deeply confused or curious about nefarious, then he or she is of course going to be confused or curious about the 'infamous'. The question is what general characteristics are possessed by all things nefarious. It's one of the fallacies of definition
Comments by kd
kd commented on the word nefarious
A definition does no good if it uses a very near synonym in the definition. For example, we define 'nefarious' as infamous by way of being extremely wicked. The words 'nefarious' and 'infamous' are very nearly the same in meaning; so if anyone is deeply confused or curious about nefarious, then he or she is of course going to be confused or curious about the 'infamous'. The question is what general characteristics are possessed by all things nefarious. It's one of the fallacies of definition
February 20, 2010