What is the Latin word for putrefy?

The usual Latin words for “putrefy” are putrēscō, pūtēscō, putrefaciō; also vitiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“putrefy” in Latin

putrēscōto putrefy, rot pūtēscōto rot, decay, putrefy putrefaciōto rot or putrefy; to soften vitiōto vitiate, make faulty, spoil, taint, corrupt, damage; to violate sexually; to falsify, corrupt (tamper with)

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

putrefy

putrescere; putescere (Col.); putrefieri (Lucr.); vitiari (Plin.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for putrefy?: The usual Latin words for “putrefy” are putrēscō, pūtēscō, putrefaciō; also vitiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.