%tref%

. (Bot.) A leguminous shrub of southern Europe, with trifoliate leaves (Anagyris foetida). [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ W. cantref; cant hundred + tref dwelling place, village. ] A district comprising a hundred villages, as in Wales. [ Written also kantry. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. putrefactio: cf. F. putréfaction. See Putrefy. ] 1. The act or the process of putrefying; the offensive decay of albuminous or other matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Putrefaction is a complex phenomenon involving a multiplicity of chemical reactions, always accompanied by, and without doubt caused by, bacteria and vibriones; hence, putrefaction is a form of fermentation, and is sometimes called putrefaction fermentative. Putrefaction is not possible under conditions that preclude the development of living organisms. Many of the products of putrefaction are powerful poisons, and are called cadaveric poisons, or ptomaïnes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The condition of being putrefied; also, that which putrefied. “Putrefaction's breath.” Shelley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. putréfactif. See Putrefy. ] 1. Of or pertaining to putrefaction; as, the putrefactive smell or process. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Causing, or tending to promote, putrefaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pu``tre*fac"tive*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ Written also putrify. ] [ imp. & p. p. Putrefied p. pr. & vb. n. Putrefying ] [ F. putréfier; L. putrere to be rotten + -ficare (in. comp.) to make; cf. L. putrefacere. See Putrid, and -fy. ] 1. To render putrid; to cause to decay offensively; to cause to be decomposed; to cause to rot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To corrupt; to make foul. [ 1913 Webster ]

Private suits do putrefy the public good. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

They would but stink, and putrefy the air. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make morbid, carious, or gangrenous; as, to putrefy an ulcer or wound. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become putrid; to decay offensively; to rot. Isa. 1. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. quatre feuilles. ] Same as Quarterfoil. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Yiddish, fr. Heb. t&ebreve_;rēphāh an animal torn by wild beasts. ] Ceremonially unclean, according to the Jewish law; -- opposed to kosher. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. tréfle. See Trefoil. ] (Fort.) A species of time; -- so called from its resemblance in form to a trefoil. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ F. tréflé. See Trefoil. ] (Her.) Having a three-lobed extremity or extremities, as a cross; also, more rarely, ornamented with trefoils projecting from the edges, as a bearing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. tres three + E. foil leaf; cf. F. frèfle, It. trifoglio, L. trifolium. See Tri-, Foil leaf, and cf. Trifoly. ] 1. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Trifolium, which includes the white clover, red clover, etc.; -- less properly, applied also to the nonesuch, or black medic. See Clover, and Medic. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) An ornamental foliation consisting of three divisions, or foils. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) A charge representing the clover leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Her.) Same as Tréflé. [ 1913 Webster ]