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mephitis

[ muh-fahy-tis ]
/ məˈfaɪ tɪs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR mephitis

noun

(in nontechnical use) a noxious or pestilential exhalation from the earth, as poison gas.
any noisome or poisonous stench.

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Origin of mephitis

1700–10; <Latin mephītis, mefītis; compare Oscan Mefit(eí) the goddess of such exhalations

Words nearby mephitis

meperidine, meperidine hydrochloride, Mephibosheth, Mephistopheles, mephitic, mephitis, Mephyton, mepivacaine hydrochloride, meprobamate, mEq, Mequon
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to mephitis

stink, smell, reek, vapor, odor, gas, fumes, smog, pollution, stench, fetor, effluvium, redolence, funk, malodor, noisomeness

Example sentences from the Web for mephitis

Medical definitions for mephitis

mephitis
[ mə-fī′tĭs ]

n.

An offensive smell; a stench.
A poisonous or foul-smelling gas emitted from the earth.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.