What is "putrefied"

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.

2. To corrupt; to make foul.

   Private suits do putrefy the public good.
   --Bacon.

   They would but stink, and putrefy the air.
   --Shak.

3. To make morbid, carious, or gangrenous; as, to putrefy an ulcer or wound.

vb. (en-past of: putrefy)

1. v. become putrid; decay with an offensive smell; "organic matter putrefies"

2. [also: putrefied]

adj. in an advanced state of decomposition and having a foul odor; "horrible like raw and putrid flesh"- Somerset Maugham [syn: putrified, putrid]

See putrefy