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putrefaction|pjuːtrɪˈfækʃən|
Forms: 5–9 (erron.) putri-, 6 putry-, 5– putre-; 5 -faccio(u)n, -faccyon, -factioun, 6– -faction.
[a. OF. putrefaction (14th c. in Littré), or ad. L. putrefactiōn-em, n. of action f. putrefacĕre: see prec.]
1. The action or process of putrefying; the decomposition of animal and vegetable substances, with its attendant unwholesome loathsomeness of smell and appearance; rotting, corruption.
In quot. 1432–50, applied to a corrupting pestilence.
1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) V. 339 A grete dragon, thro the pestilente putrefaccion of whom moche peple diede in the cite. 1533Elyot Cast. Helthe iii. xv. (1541) 72 b, It shal be necessary for them..to be circumspecte in eatyng meate yt shortly will receiue putrifaction. 1661J. Childrey Brit. Baconica 55 Heat and moisture are the greater disposers to putrifaction. 1789W. Buchan Dom. Med. (1790) 63 Animal substances have a constant tendency to putrefaction. 1833Marryat P. Simple xxx, The body is never allowed to remain many hours unburied in the tropical climates, where putrefaction is so rapid. 1875Huxley & Martin Elem. Biol. (1883) 26 All the forms of putrefaction which are undergone by animal and vegetable matters are fermentations set up by Bacteria of different kinds.
b. Decomposition of tissues or fluids in a living body, as in ulceration, suppuration, or gangrene.
c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 51 Þe which quytture schulde corrupte þilke lyme [= limb] & brynge him to putrifaccioun [v.r. putrefactioun]. 1460–70Bk. Quintessence 21 Alle philosophoris seyn þat þe feuere contynuele is gendrid of putrifaccioun of blood and of corrupcioun of humouris in it. 1579Langham Gard. Health (1633) 403 Mirrhe preserueth from putrifaction, both the intrals and all outward sores, wounds, and vlcers. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vi. §9 That putrefaction is more contagious before maturitie than after. 1756Gray Let. to Wharton 25 Mar., I maintain that one sick rich patient has more of pestilence and putrefaction about him than a whole ward of sick poor. 1806Med. Jrnl. XV. 492 It is attended with great debility, and there is frequently a great tendency to putrefaction and mortification.
†2. In reference to inorganic matter, esp. in Alch.: The disintegration or decomposition of a substance by chemical or other action; also, the oxidation or corrosion of metals, etc. Obs.
1471Ripley Comp. Alch. v. iii. in Ashm. Theat. Chem. Brit. (1652) 148 And Putrefaccyon may thus defyned be After Philosophers sayings it ys of Bodyes the fleyng, And in our compound a dyuysyon of thyngs thre. 1610B. Jonson Alch. ii. v, Name the vexations, and the martyrizations of Mettalls... Sir, Putrefaction, Solution, Ablution, Sublimation [etc.]. 1626Bacon Sylva §291 Metals give Orient and Fine colours in Dissolutions..likewise in their Putrefactions or Rusts. 1671J. Webster Metallogr. viii. 128 A certain metallick body..that is of an easie solution and putrefaction.
3. concr. Decomposed or putrid matter.
1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vi. §11 The mosse vppon the wall, which is but a rudiment betweene putrefaction, and an hearbe. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 39 In the midst is a hole, discending to the bottome, which receiues that putrefaction and vncleannesse, issuing from the melting bodies, which are laid there naked..exposed to the sunnes fiery rage. 1692Bentley Boyle Lect. iv. 134 They would readily [deposit their eggs] in all Putrefaction, even in a mucilage of bruised spiders.
4. fig. Moral corruption and decay.
a1631Donne Select. (1840) 164 We bring elements of our own; earth of covetousness, water of unsteadfastness, air of putrefaction, and fire of licentiousness. 1750Johnson Rambler No. 47 ⁋14 Sorrow..is the putrefaction of stagnant life, and is remedied by exercise and motion. 1871Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (1879) II. ix. 148 Rome, and the other cities of the Empire, had fallen into moral putrefaction. 1907Edin. Rev. Jan. 22, It is thanks to heretics that orthodoxy has been kept from putrefaction.
Hence † putreˈfactious (putri-) a. Obs., of the nature of, or full of putrefaction; putrefying, putrid.
1609W. M. Man in Moone D iij, Your complexion..shall be of a saffron colour; your cheekes, thinne; your nosethrils putrifactious;..your breath, noysome. 1616R. C. Times' Whistle v. 2178 Drunkennesse, whose putrefactious slime Darkens the splendour of our common wealth. |