Etymograph

English

putrefaction

Putrefaction comes from Latin putrefactiō ‘rotting, putrefaction’, from putrefaciō ‘become rotten’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
  4. Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciō‘to make, construct, fashion, frame, build, erect’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEputrefaciō‘become rotten’
  7. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEputrefactus‘rotted, putrefied’perfect passive participle of putrefaciō
  8. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEputrefactiō‘rotting, putrefaction’
  9. Old Frenchc. 842–1400putrefaccïon
  10. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500putrefaccioun
  11. Englishtodayputrefaction

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
  4. Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciō‘to make, construct, fashion, frame, build, erect’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEputrefaciō‘become rotten’
  7. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEputrefactus‘rotted, putrefied’perfect passive participle of putrefaciō
  8. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEputrefactiō‘rotting, putrefaction’
  9. Old Frenchc. 842–1400putrefaccïon
  10. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500putrefaccioun
  11. Englishtodayputrefaction

first attested First attested between 1350 and 1400 from Middle English putrefaccioun, from Old French putrefaccïon, from Latin putrefactiō, from putrefactus, perfect passive participle of putrefaciō (“become rotten”) (as stated in the etymology)

The story

First attested between 1350 and 1400 from Middle English putrefaccioun, from Old French putrefaccïon, from Latin putrefactiō, from putrefactus, perfect passive participle of putrefaciō (‘become rotten’)

Linked words

through Proto-Italic *θakjō

effectively, effectiveness, ineffective, affectionate, imperfection, 64 more

through Proto-Italic *fakjō ‘to make’

effective, difficulty, factor, interface, manufacture, perfection, affection, imperfect, facet, affective, defector, effector, defection, deface, affectation, confectionary, 69 more

through Latin faciō ‘to make, construct, fashion, frame, build, erect’

face, difficult, perfect, fact, effect, profit, feature, affect, facility, efficient, sacrifice, affair, faculty, feat, deficit, infection, facial, facilitate, superficial, fetish, efficacy, counterfeit, defect, infect, deficient, facade, façade, facsimile, hacienda, maleficent, difficile, parfait, aficionado, beautify, efficacious, facies, confit, beneficent, confection, refectory, 85 more

Today it means

noun The act of causing to rot; the anaerobic splitting of proteins by bacteria and fungi with the formation of malodorous, incompletely oxidized products.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- / putrefaction

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