Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “rotting” come from?

Rotting comes from Middle English rotynge, formed from the Middle English verb roten combined with the Middle English suffix -ing, which derives from Middle English -en, ultimately from Latin rupta, the feminine past participle of rumpere meaning to break.

rotting (English): present participle of rot; The process by which...

Definitions

  1. present participle of rot; The process by which...

Ancestry of “rotting”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishrotyngeRotting or decomposition; the situation where...
2Middle Englishrotenplural of rote; To decompose ; to become rotten...
3Middle EnglishroteThe root; The foundation or base of a...
4Old Frenchroterote
5Latinruptanominative feminine singular of ruptus;...
6Latinruptusbroken; ruptured, burst
7Latinrumpō—
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrunéptito be breaking
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrewp-to break, tear
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrew-to tear out, dig out, open, acquire

Words derived from “rotting”

  • unrotting
  • nonrotting
Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrew- →