Rot vs. Wot

Rotverb

(intransitive) To suffer decomposition due to biological action, especially by fungi or bacteria.

Wotverb

(archaic) To know.

Rotverb

(intransitive) To decline in function or utility.

Wot

1st & 3d pers. sing. pres. of Wit, to know. See the Note under Wit, v.

‘Brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it.’;

Rotverb

(ambitransitive) To (cause to) deteriorate in any way, as in morals; to corrupt.

Rotverb

(transitive) To make putrid; to cause to be wholly or partially decomposed by natural processes.

‘to rot vegetable fiber’;

Rotverb

To spend a long period of time (in an unpleasant place).

‘to rot in prison’; ‘to rot in Hell’;

Rotverb

(transitive) To expose, as flax, to a process of maceration, etc., for the purpose of separating the fiber; to ret.

Rotnoun

The process of becoming rotten; putrefaction.

Rotnoun

Any of several diseases in which breakdown of tissue occurs.

Rotnoun

Verbal nonsense.

Rotverb

To undergo a process common to organic substances by which they lose the cohesion of their parts and pass through certain chemical changes, giving off usually in some stages of the process more or less offensive odors; to become decomposed by a natural process; to putrefy; to decay.

‘Fixed like a plant on his peculiar spot,To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot.’;

Rotverb

Figuratively: To perish slowly; to decay; to die; to become corrupt.

‘Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons.’; ‘Rot, poor bachelor, in your club.’;

Rotverb

To make putrid; to cause to be wholly or partially decomposed by natural processes; as, to rot vegetable fiber.

Rotverb

To expose, as flax, to a process of maceration, etc., for the purpose of separating the fiber; to ret.

Rotnoun

Process of rotting; decay; putrefaction.

Rotnoun

A disease or decay in fruits, leaves, or wood, supposed to be caused by minute fungi. See Bitter rot, Black rot, etc., below.

Rotnoun

A fatal distemper which attacks sheep and sometimes other animals. It is due to the presence of a parasitic worm in the liver or gall bladder. See 1st Fluke, 2.

‘His cattle must of rot and murrain die.’;

Rotnoun

decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor

Rotnoun

(biology) decaying caused by bacterial or fungal action

Rotnoun

unacceptable behavior (especially ludicrously false statements)

Rotverb

break down;

‘The bodies decomposed in the heat’;

Rotverb

waste away;

‘Political prisoners are wasting away in many prisons all over the world’;

Rotverb

(chiefly of animal or vegetable matter) decay or cause to decay by the action of bacteria and fungi; decompose

‘the chalets were neglected and their woodwork was rotting away’; ‘caries sets in at a weak point and spreads to rot the whole tooth’;

Rotverb

gradually deteriorate, especially through neglect

‘the education system has been allowed to rot’;

Rotverb

make fun of; tease

‘has anybody been rotting you?’;

Rotnoun

the process of decaying

‘the leaves were turning black with rot’;

Rotnoun

rotten or decayed matter.

Rotnoun

any of a number of fungal or bacterial diseases that cause tissue deterioration, especially in plants.

Rotnoun

liver rot in sheep.

Rotnoun

a process of deterioration; a decline in standards

‘there is enough talent in the team to stop the rot’; ‘it was when they moved back to the family home that the rot set in’;

Rotnoun

corruption on the part of officials.

Rotnoun

nonsense; rubbish

‘don't talk rot’; ‘‘Rot!’ she said with vehemence’;