putrefacientn.adj.
/ˌpjuːtrᵻˈfeɪʃnt/, U.S. /ˌpjutrəˈfeɪʃ(ə)nt/ A. n.
An agent or substance that causes putrefaction. rare.
ΚΠ
1743 R. James Rational Farmer & Pract. Husbandman i. 109/2 Water..acts in various Manners and Capacities; as a Menstruum, a Ferment, a Putrefacient, a Vehicle, a Medium, &c.
2001 R. G. Moreira Automatic Control Syst. ix. 302 The sensor was prepared by immobilizing spoilage-causing putrefacients on a membrane filter.
B. adj.
= putrefactive adj. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > corruption or putridness > [adjective] > causing corruption or putridness
putrefactive?a1425
rotting?c1425
putrefying1565
putrid1628
putrefactory1650
putrefacient1849
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [adjective] > rotten or putrefied > causing rot or putrefaction
putrefactive?a1425
rotting?c1425
putrefying1565
corruptive1609
putrid1628
putrefactory1650
putrefacient1849
1849 F. Adams Genuine Wks. Hippocrates (Sydenham Soc.) II. 826 For cutting, excising, sewing, binding, applying putrefacient means to the anus,—all these appear to be very formidable things.
1868 C. Neidhard Crotalus Horridus (ed. 2) p. xiii The venom of Crotalus..is a septic, or putrifacient poison of astounding energy.
1888 Alienist & Neurol. 9 363 Putrefacient action on the blood and tissues after the lapse of some hours.
1997 J. Litvak Strange Gourmets iv. 81 Sophistication..can easily get stigmatized..as the symptom of an unhealthy overgrowth, a noxious overrefinement, a putrefacient hypertrophy of sensibility.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1743