[pu.tre.fac.tion] n [ME putrefaccion, fr. LL putrefaction-, putrefactio, fr. L putrefacere] (14c) 1: the decomposition of organic matter; esp: the typically anaerobic splitting of proteins by bacteria and fungi with the formation of foul-smelling incompletely oxidized products
2: the state of being putrefied: corruption -- pu.tre.fac.tive adj