See Also: Putrefaction(medicine)
putrefaction(dictionary)

putrefaction (iou)



putrefaction noun. LME.
[Old & mod. French putrefaction or late Latin putrefactio(n-), from Latin putrefact- pa. ppl stem of putrefacere PUTREFY: see -FACTION.]
The action or process of putrefying; the bacterial decomposition of animal or vegetable matter, accompanied by the formation of foul-smelling substances; rotting, corruption; suppuration, festering. LME.
b. Alchemy. Chemical disintegration, decomposition, oxidation, corrosion. L15-L17.
Decomposed or putrid matter. LME.
fig. Moral corruption and decay. M17.