Putrefying

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Putrefy \Pu"tre*fy\, v. t. [Written also putrify.] [imp. & p. p.
     {Putrefied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Putrefying}.] [F. putr['e]fier;
     L. putrere to be rotten + -ficare (in. comp.) to make; cf. L.
     putrefacere. See {Putrid}, and {-fy}.]
     1. To render putrid; to cause to decay offensively; to cause
        to be decomposed; to cause to rot.


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     2. To corrupt; to make foul.
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              Private suits do putrefy the public good. --Bacon.
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              They would but stink, and putrefy the air. --Shak.
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     3. To make morbid, carious, or gangrenous; as, to putrefy an
        ulcer or wound.
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