Rot
/rɒt/noun
To decay, decompose, or become useless through deterioration.
Did you know?In Old English, rotian meant “to decay,” and its deep Germanic relatives spread through words for rotting, rusting, and ruin — the language of breakdown has been with us for millennia.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*rūtōną
“to rot, decay”
Old English
OE
rotian
“to rot, decay”
Middle English
ME
rotten
“to become putrid or decayed”
Late Middle English
ME
rot
“decay, corruption”
Modern English
English
rot
“to decay, decompose”