Webster's English Dictionary

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putrefaction

pu.tre.fac.tion \.pyu:-tr*-'fak-sh*n\ \-'fak-tiv\ n [ME putrefaccion, fr. 
   LL putrefaction-, putrefactio, fr. L Xputrefactus, pp. of putrefacere 1: 
   the decomposition of organic matter; esp : the typically anaerob ic 
   splitting of proteins by bacteria and fungi with the formation of 
   foul-smelling incompletely oxidized products 2: the state of being 
   putrefied : CORRUPTION  - pu.tre.fac.tive aj