putrefiern.
/ˈpjuːtrᵻfʌɪə/, U.S. /ˈpjutrəˌfaɪ(ə)r/ Now rare.
An agent or substance which causes putrefaction. Also figurative: a corrupting agent or influence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > rotten or putrefying condition > rotting or putrefying > putrefying agent
corruptera1538
putrefier1651
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > [noun] > corrupting > one who or that which > corrupting influence or agency
corrumpciona1340
corruptiona1340
ulcer1592
corruptive1641
depravation1711
putrefier1895
1651 N. Biggs Matæotechnia Medicinæ Praxeωs §118 Putrefyers of the bloud.
1752 Philos. Trans. 1749–50 (Royal Soc.) 46 554 The alcaline Salts have been consider'd as the chief Putrefiers.
1883 Workshop Receipts 2nd Ser. 196/2 A series of experiments upon putrefiers and antiseptics.
1895 Voice (N.Y.) 9 May 5/4 Who are the putrefiers of society to-day?
1917 Sci. Monthly July 68 Very few organisms are able to develop or even live in such an acid medium, and this is especially true of the putrefiers.
2001 New Scientist 21 July 56/2 [He] essentially ignores the microbial biosphere as the site of overriding respirers and putrefiers that must do the work of unfixing the carbon accumulated by plants.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1651