Etymology
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putrefy (v.)

late 14c., putrefien, "to decompose, rot, decay with a fetid smell," from Old French putréfier and directly from Latin putrefacere "to make rotten," from putrere "to stink" (see putrid) + facere "to make, do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). Transitive sense of "cause to decompose or rot" is from early 15c. Related: Putrefied; putrefying.

updated on February 16, 2021

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