rot´ten|ness

rot´ten|ness
rot|ten «ROT uhn», adjective.
1. decayed or spoiled; decomposed: »

a rotten egg, rotten wood. Beneath this is a zone of partly decayed stone or rotten rock (Fenton and Fenton).

2. bad-smelling; foul; disgusting: »

a rotten smell, rotten air.

 SYNONYM(S): putrid, fetid.
3. not in good condition; unsound; weak: »

The rotten ice gave way, and he fell into the water. It is a reasoning weak, rotten, and sophistical (Edmund Burke).

4. Figurative. corrupt; dishonest: »

rotten government. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark (Shakespeare).

5. bad; nasty: »

rotten luck, to feel rotten, a rotten joke, to have a rotten time. He said furiously, “You loved Scobie,” and added quickly, “Sorry. Rotten thing to say” (Graham Greene).

╂[< Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic rotinn)]
–rot´ten|ly, adverb.
–rot´ten|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • rot´ten|ly — rot|ten «ROT uhn», adjective. 1. decayed or spoiled; decomposed: »a rotten egg, rotten wood. Beneath this is a zone of partly decayed stone or rotten rock (Fenton and Fenton). 2. bad smelling; foul; disgusting: »a rotten smell, rotten air.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • rot|ten — «ROT uhn», adjective. 1. decayed or spoiled; decomposed: »a rotten egg, rotten wood. Beneath this is a zone of partly decayed stone or rotten rock (Fenton and Fenton). 2. bad smelling; foul; disgusting: »a rotten smell, rotten air. SYNONYM(S):… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ness — ness·ber·ry; ness·ler·iza·tion; ness·ler·ize; ness·ler s; new·fan·gled·ness; new·ness; news·i·ness; nice·ness; nig·gard·li·ness; nig·gard·ness; nigh·ness; nip·pi·ness; no·ble·ness; nois·i·ness; non·cha·lant·ness; north·er·li·ness; north·ness;… …   English syllables

  • ten — af·ten; aglis·ten; an·ten·nal; an·ten·nar·ia; an·ten·na·ri·i·dae; an·ten·na·ry; an·ten·na·ta; an·ten·nate; an·ten·ni·fer; an·ten·ni·form; an·ten·nu·la; an·ten·nu·lar; an·ten·nule; ap·pe·ten·cy; ar·ten·kreis; as·tro·pec·ten; at·ten·si·ty;… …   English syllables

  • rot — am·phe·rot·o·kous; am·phe·rot·o·ky; an·gi·o·neu·rot·ic; an·ti·vi·rot·ic; aphos·pho·rot·ic; ap·o·neu·rot·ic; ba·rot·se; bi·rot·u·lar; bi·rot·u·late; ca·rot·enol; ca·rot·id·al; chi·rot·o·ny; gar·rot; gar·rot·er; ig·o·rot; lap·a·rot·o·my;… …   English syllables

  • rottenness — rot·ten·ness …   English syllables

  • rotten — rot•ten [[t]ˈrɒt n[/t]] adj. er, est 1) having rotted; decomposing or decaying 2) tainted or foul smelling; putrid 3) corrupt or morally offensive 4) wretchedly bad or unsatisfactory; miserable: a rotten day[/ex] 5) contemptible; despicable: a… …   From formal English to slang

  • Rotten — Rot ten, a. [Icel. rotinn; akin to Sw. rutten, Dan. radden. See {Rot}.] Having rotted; putrid; decayed; as, a rotten apple; rotten meat. Hence: (a) Offensive to the smell; fetid; disgusting. [1913 Webster] You common cry of curs! whose breath I… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rotten borough — Rotten Rot ten, a. [Icel. rotinn; akin to Sw. rutten, Dan. radden. See {Rot}.] Having rotted; putrid; decayed; as, a rotten apple; rotten meat. Hence: (a) Offensive to the smell; fetid; disgusting. [1913 Webster] You common cry of curs! whose… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rotten stone — Rotten Rot ten, a. [Icel. rotinn; akin to Sw. rutten, Dan. radden. See {Rot}.] Having rotted; putrid; decayed; as, a rotten apple; rotten meat. Hence: (a) Offensive to the smell; fetid; disgusting. [1913 Webster] You common cry of curs! whose… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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