Middle English putrefien, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French putrefier, from Latin putrefacere, from putrēre to be rotten + facere to make
verb
to make putrid
to undergo putrefaction
decaydecomposerotputrefyspoil mean to undergo destructive dissolution. decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection. decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption.