putrefaction

American  

[pyoo-truh-fak-shuhn] / ˌpyu trəˈfæk ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of putrefying; the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter by bacteria and fungi that results in obnoxiously odorous products; rotting.

2. the state of being putrefied; decay.

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Other Word Forms

• putrefacient
  adjective
• putrefactive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of putrefaction

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin putrefactiōn- (stem of putrefactiō ) a rotting, equivalent to Latin putrefact ( us ) (past participle of putrefacere to putrefy ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

If you suspect that something in your yard is in a state of putrefaction, there's probably something stinky and rotten out there. The relatives of this word in English all resemble it and fit neatly into one meaning category, "rotten." The mother of them all is putrid, from Latin putris, "rotten." This leads to putrefy, which means "make rotten," and finally putrefaction, the process of rotting or a state of being rotten. The ending is -faction rather than -fication on the pattern of many nouns that have Latin facere in their pasts: benefaction, malefaction, and liquefaction — to name a few.

Example Sentences

Putrefaction, man's constant companion, is treated under the general heading "Vilenesses Various," including paragraphs on "Bad Breath and Toothpicks," "Plate and Knife Licking" and "Discarded Hairs and Nails."

From Time Magazine Archive

For mere inflammation, whether acute or chronic, though it occasions the formation of pus, does not induce Putrefaction.

From Fragments of science, V. 1-2 by Tyndall, John

Putrefaction will start at 50°, so that a pantry or closet where food is kept should have a temperature at least as low as that.

From Trees, Fruits and Flowers of Minnesota, 1916 Embracing the Transactions of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society,Volume 44, from December 1, 1915, to December 1, 1916, Including the Twelve Numbers of "The Minnesota Horticulturist" for 1916 by Latham, A. W.

When the Putrefaction increases, he recommends the Use of some of the mineral Acids.

From An Account of the Diseases which were most frequent in the British military hospitals in Germany by Monro, Donald

Putrefaction of the body is retarded by arsenic.

From Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Robertson, W. G. Aitchison (William George Aitchison )