The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Renown \Re*nown"\ (r?-noun"), v. t. [F. renommer to name again,
   celebrate, make famous; pref. re- re- + nommer to name, L.
   nominare, fr. nomen a name. See Noun.]
   To make famous; to give renown to. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]

         For joy to hear me so renown his son.    --Chapman.
   [1913 Webster]

         The bard whom pilfered pastorals renown. --Pope.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Renown \Re*nown"\ (r?-noun"), n. [F. renom. See Noun, and cf.
   Renown, v.]
   1. The state of being much known and talked of; exalted
      reputation derived from the extensive praise of great
      achievements or accomplishments; fame; celebrity; --
      always in a good sense.
      [1913 Webster]

            Nor envy we
            Thy great renown, nor grudge thy victory. --Dryden.
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   2. Report of nobleness or exploits; praise.
      [1913 Webster]

            This famous duke of Milan,
            Of whom so often I have heard renown. --Shak.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

renown
    n 1: the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
         [syn: fame, celebrity, renown] [ant: infamy,
         opprobrium]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

47 Moby Thesaurus words for "renown":
   acclaim, celebrity, character, consequence, dignity, distinction,
   eclat, eminence, esteem, fame, famousness, figure, glory,
   greatness, heroism, honor, illustriousness, kudos, loftiness,
   magnanimity, majesty, mark, memorability, name, nobility,
   notability, note, noteworthiness, notoriety, notoriousness,
   popularity, preeminence, prestige, prominence, publicity, reclame,
   recognition, remarkableness, rep, report, reputation, repute,
   salience, stardom, sublimity, the bubble reputation, vogue



The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

RENOWN, n.  A degree of distinction between notoriety and fame -- a
little more supportable than the one and a little more intolerable
than the other.  Sometimes it is conferred by an unfriendly and
inconsiderate hand.

    I touched the harp in every key,
        But found no heeding ear;
    And then Ithuriel touched me
        With a revealing spear.

    Not all my genius, great as 'tis,
        Could urge me out of night.
    I felt the faint appulse of his,
        And leapt into the light!
                                                        W.J. Candleton