Rotten
/ˈrɒtən/noun
Decayed, decomposed, or spoiled; morally corrupt.
Did you know?In English, rotten is built on the same ancient root as rot, and its old sense was purely physical decay before it became a metaphor for corruption and moral spoilage.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*rutaną
“to decay, to become rotten”
Old English
OE
rotian
“to rot, to decay”
Middle English
ME
rotten
“decayed, putrid”
Modern English
English
rotten
“decayed, spoiled; corrupt or morally bad”