Middle English Dictionary Entry

rō̆ten v.(1)
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms rō̆ten v.(1) Also rot(e, roton, rotte, roti(e(n, rotee, (N) roit(e, rotti, rotiinne & (early) rotiȝen, rotihin; sg.3 roteth, etc. & rotuth, (early) roties; p. rotede, etc. & rodede; ppl. roted(e, iroted, i)rotet, rotude, rotted, roded, rodded & roten, roton & (early error) roteð.
Etymology OE ge)rotian

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
(a) Of animal substances: to undergo natural decomposition, putrefy, rot; of a corpse or part of a dead body: become putrid, decay; of cheese: spoil; ~ awei, rot away, disintegrate completely; ~ from bon, rot from the bone; ~ to dust; able to ~, subject to putrefaction, corruptible; also, ppl. roted as adj.; (b) of vegetable matter: to undergo natural decomposition, wither, rot; of a tree, wood, a wooden structure: rot, decay; of fruit: spoil, become rotten; unable to ~, not subject to decay, incorruptible; ppl. roted as adj.: rotten; (c) of a metal object: to rust; (d) of water: to become stagnant or filthy; of moisture within a seed: become rotten, putrefy; of air: become infectious or pestilential; roted infeccioun of air; (e) of cloth, clothing, wool: to disintegrate from age, exposure, etc., rot; (f) of heat: to cause putrefaction; of moisture: make (sth.) rot; weder roting tilth, mildew; (g) roted place, ?a place full of rotted or decaying matter; ?a marshy place; (h) in proverbs [Whiting A167].
Show 60 Quotations
1b.
Med.: (a) To suffer a wasting disease; of flesh or tissues in a living body, a bodily member, etc.: fester, become putrid or gangrenous, mortify; of a wound, sore, etc.: suppurate; of teeth: decay; ~ of, rot off; ppl. as adj.: rotinge, rotting; roted, putrid, suppurating; (b) of a humor, blood, pus, etc.: to putrefy; ppl. roted as adj.: putrefied; also, roted fever, a kind of fever said to be caused by the putrefaction of humors in the body; ?malaria in its various forms; (c) to cause suppuration; also, cause (body tissues, a wound, etc.) to suppurate; also, waste away (the body), corrupt; rotinge medicine, a medicine causing suppuration.
Show 44 Quotations
2.
Fig.: (a) To rot morally or spiritually; of a spiritual wound, sin, malice: fester, become putrid; of pride: decay; also, ppl. roted as adj.; (b) to languish (in prison, hell), waste away; ~ in hord, remain uselessly stored away; (c) ppl. roted as adj.: foul, filthy; vile; roted herted, thoroughly corrupt.
Show 16 Quotations
3.
To perish, pass away; ben roted, be destroyed; ppl. rotinge as adj.: perishable, transitory.
Show 8 Quotations
4.
?To soak, steep in liquid; also, to ret (flax).
Show 4 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 46/1 : Whanne al þe wyne is clene juyssed out from þe grapes, þannne gadre þei draf..of whiche..þey make a gode þykke bedde in þe bothome of a gode large potte..and þanne þey keuere þe vessel wel and sykirly, and..putten hit forto ȝoten in hoot hors donge.
    • Note: Additional quot., prob. sense 1a.(b). New spelling = ȝoten (error).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. rotting medicine.

©2025 Regents of the University of Michigan. For details about this collection's copyright see the MEC copyright statement and the U-M Library Copyright Policy. Data last refreshed Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 12:18:00.