- Today's Word
Putrid
[PYOO-trid]
Definition
- (adjective) In a state of decomposition or rotting, typically having a foul odor; repulsively rotten or decayed. As an adjective, it describes something that is decaying and emitting an extremely unpleasant smell.
Example
The putrid smell of spoiled food filled the refrigerator after the power outage lasted for several days.
Fun Fact
The word “putrid” comes from the Latin “putridus,” meaning “rotten,” which derives from “putrere” meaning “to rot.” In medieval medicine, the term was closely associated with the theory of “putrefaction,” one of the four stages of alchemical transformation. Doctors of that era believed that many diseases were caused by “putrid fevers,” where bodily humors would rot inside the body. This concept influenced medical practice for centuries until germ theory emerged in the 19th century. Interestingly, while the word has always carried negative connotations, some French cheeses are deliberately aged to achieve a controlled state of putrefaction.
(adjective) Showy but cheap and of poor quality; lacking good taste.
The room was filled with tawdry decorations that looked like they came from a discount bin.
Mid 17th century: contraction of St. Audrey’s lace, which referred to cheap lace sold at fairs in honor of St. Audrey. Over time, the lace was seen as gaudy and tasteless, and St. Audrey became tawdry.