Pu-trĕs'cent, a.

adjective

a. [Lat. putrescens, p. pr. of putrescere, to grow rotten, v. inchoative from putrere, to be rotten. See PUTRID.]

  1. Becoming putrid. “Stately, externally powerful, although putrescent at the core.” Motley.
  2. Pertaining to the process of putrefaction; as, a putrescent smell.