Part 692

Put"-off` (?; 115), n. A shift for evasion or delay; an evasion; an excuse. L'Estrange.

Pu"tour (?), n. [See Put a prostitute.] A keeper of a brothel; a procurer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pu*tred"i*nous (?), a. [L. putredo rottenness, fr. putrere to be rotten. See Putrid.] Proceeding from putrefaction, or partaking of the putrefactive process; having an offensive smell; stinking; rotten.

Pu`tre*fac"tion (?), n. [L. putrefactio: cf. F. putrÈfaction. See Putrefy.] 1. The act or the process of putrefying; the offensive decay of albuminous or other matter.

Putrefaction is a complex phenomenon involving a multiplicity of chemical reactions, always accompanied by, and without doubt caused by, bacteria and vibriones; hence, putrefaction is a form of fermentation, and is sometimes called putrefaction fermentative. Putrefaction is not possible under conditions that preclude the development of living organisms. Many of the products of putrefaction are powerful poisons, and are called cadaveric poisons, or ptomaÔnes.

2. The condition of being putrefied; also, that which putrefied. "Putrefaction's breath." Shelley.

Pu`tre*fac"tive (?), a. [Cf. putrÈfactif. See Putrefy.] 1. Of or pertaining to putrefaction; as, the putrefactive smell or process. Wiseman.

2. Causing, or tending to promote, putrefaction.

-- Pu``tre*fac"tive*ness, n.

Pu"tre*fy (?), v. t. [Written also putrify.] [imp. & p. p. Putrefied (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Putrefying (&?;).] [F. putrÈfier; L. putrere to be rotten + - ficare (in. comp.) to make; cf. L. putrefacere. See Putrid, and -fy.] 1. To render putrid; to cause to decay offensively; to cause to be decomposed; to cause to rot.

2. To corrupt; to make foul.

Private suits do putrefy the public good.

Bacon.

They would but stink, and putrefy the air.

Shak.

3. To make morbid, carious, or gangrenous; as, to putrefy an ulcer or wound.

Pu"tre*fy, v. i. To become putrid; to decay offensively; to rot. Isa. 1. 6.

Pu*tres"cence (?), n. The state of being putrescent; putrescent matter.

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Pu*tres"cent (?), a. [L. putrescens, p. pr.of putrescere to grow rotten, v. incho. fr. putrere to be rotten. See Putrid.] 1. Becoming putrid or rotten.

Externally powerful, although putrescent at the core.

Motley.

2. Of or pertaining to the process of putrefaction; as, a putrescent smell.

Pu*tres"ci*ble (?), a. Capable of putrefaction; liable to become putrid; as, putrescible substances.

Pu*tres"ci*ble, n. A substance, usually nitrogenous, which is liable to undergo decomposition when in contact with air and moisture at ordinary temperatures.

Pu*tres"cin (?), n. (Physiol. Chem.) A nontoxic diamine, C4H12N2, formed in the putrefaction of the flesh of mammals and some other animals.

Pu"trid (?), a. [L. putridus, fr. putrere to be rotten, fr. puter, or putris, rotten, fr. putere to stink, to be rotten: cf. F. putride. See Pus, Foul, a.] 1. Tending to decomposition or decay; decomposed; rotten; -- said of animal or vegetable matter; as, putrid flesh. See Putrefaction.

2. Indicating or proceeding from a decayed state of animal or vegetable matter; as, a putrid smell.