marcescente

rotting

adjective mar-cheh-SHEN-teh Rare

Origin: From Latin marcescere (to wither, to decay).

Also means

putrefying

Usage Note

Marcescente is a formal or literary adjective describing organic material in the process of decaying — foglie marcescenti (rotting leaves), legno marcescente (rotting wood). It is more literary than the everyday marcio (rotten, already decayed). In ecology, materia marcescente refers to decomposing organic matter that enriches the soil.

Examples

"Il tronco marcescente cadde nel fiume."

Natural Translation

The rotting trunk fell into the river.

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