rotting
verbnouncommon in dialogue
The process by which something rots.
verb
- 1
Also a form of rotpresent participle and gerund of rot
Etymology
From Middle English rotynge (“rotting”), from Old English rotung; equivalent to rot + -ing. Conflated with Middle English rotende, present participle of roten (“to rot”), from Old English rotiende, present participle of rotian (“to rot”).
noun
- 1
The process by which something rots.
[…] the mould on the boles of the other [trees], that lyes commonly there, and is made of the annual rottings of their own leaves.
- 2
Material that has rotted.
From the compost rinds and rottings, from the garbage peels, from the shadows' darkness, darkness, this guttered meal and all its redolence.
Forms
- plural
- rottings