ROT

I. verb (~ted; ~ting) Etymology: Middle English ~en, from Old English ~ian; akin to Old High German rōzzēn to ~ Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to undergo decomposition from the action of bacteria or fungi, to become unsound or weak (as from use or chemical action), 2. to go to ruin ; deteriorate , to become morally corrupt ; degenerate , transitive verb to cause to decompose or deteriorate with or as if with ~, see: decay II. noun Date: 14th century 1. the process of ~ting ; the state of being ~ten ; decay , something ~ten or ~ting, 2. a wasting putrescent disease, any of several parasitic diseases especially of sheep marked by necrosis and wasting, plant disease marked by breakdown of tissues and caused especially by fungi or bacteria, nonsense