fetid

fetid

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Pronunciation

Phonetic Spelling

The IPA phonetic spelling for fetid is /ˈfɛtɪd/.

• fe /fɛ/: The first syllable starts with the 'f' sound (a voiceless labiodental fricative) as in "fish," followed by the /ɛ/ vowel, the 'eh' sound as in "bed."

• tid /tɪd/: The second syllable starts with the 't' sound (a voiceless alveolar plosive) as in "top," followed by the /ɪ/ vowel, the 'ih' sound as in "sit," and ends with the 'd' sound (a voiced alveolar plosive) as in "dog."

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Word Form Variations

• Adjective: fetid (e.g., "a fetid swamp")

• Adverb: fetidly (e.g., "the garbage rotted fetidly")

• Noun: fetidness (e.g., "the fetidness of the room was overwhelming")

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Adjective

1. Having an extremely unpleasant, offensive, or disgusting smell, often associated with decay or rot. 🤢

• Synonyms: stinking, foul, malodorous, rank, putrid, rancid, noxious

• Antonyms: fragrant, aromatic, perfumed, sweet, fresh, clean

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Examples of Use

In Books

• In H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu, the narrator describes the nightmarish city of R'lyeh: "The very air was heavy with the fetid odour of dead-and-gone-to-hell centuries."

• In the novel Everville by Clive Barker, a character follows a scent trail: "Harry followed the fetid trail it had left to the room that Kissoon had lately occupied." (Collins Dictionary)

In Newspapers and Online Publications

• Describing political environments: "Cleaning up our fetid politics is Keir Starmer's toughest task yet. Here's how he can do it, fast" (The Guardian, July 2024). This uses the word metaphorically to describe a corrupt or toxic atmosphere.

• Discussing science: A 2012 article in Angewandte Chemie exploring a scientific mystery was titled "Secret of 'Fetid Fluorite' Aired," referring to a mineral that emits a foul smell when crushed. (ChemistryViews)

• Metaphorical public discourse: An opinion piece discussing online harassment campaigns and toxic trolling described the "fetid, right-wing origins of 'learn to code'." (The New Republic, February 2019)

• Describing living conditions: "Nearly 5 acres of the fetid ground was saturated with effluent and human waste, increasing incidents of disease, including dysentery." (CNN)

In Entertainment

• In the video game Diablo II, players can explore a location called the "Fetid Mausoleum."

• In the fantasy game Warhammer, one of the primary Chaos Gods, Nurgle, is associated with decay, and his followers are often described using terms like "fetid" and "putrid."

• The 2005 film Constantine features a scene where the main character enters a room filled with flies and decay, saying, "Typical. A fetid, fly-blown room."

In General Public Discourse

• Describing household problems: "I finally figured out what was causing the fetid smell in the kitchen—it was a bag of potatoes rotting in the back of the pantry."

• Discussing city life: "Walking past that alley in the summer is disgusting; the fetid combination of hot garbage and stagnant water is unbearable."

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10 Famous Quotes Using Fetid

1. I shrunk from the fetid atmosphere of the dungeons. (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein)

2. The very air was heavy with the fetid odour of dead-and-gone-to-hell centuries. (H.P. Lovecraft, The Call of Cthulhu)

3. The black lava is naked, generally fetid and glossy. (Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle)

4. The air was fetid with the odors of stagnant water and unknown molds. (Umberto Eco, The Name of the Rose)

5. It was the fetid, carbon-choked air of the tunnels. (H.P. Lovecraft, The Mound)

6. The fetid air and water of the slums are the primary causes of the high death rates. (Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives)

7. He recoiled from the fetid breath that struck his face. (Robert E. Howard, The Hour of the Dragon)

8. The air was fetid, heavy with the smell of death and decay. (George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons)

9. They were now in the fetid, narrow streets of the city. (Gore Vidal, Julian)

10. Harry followed the fetid trail it had left to the room that Kissoon had lately occupied. (Clive Barker, Everville)

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Etymology

The word fetid has a very straightforward origin that has always been related to bad smells.

It comes directly from the Latin word fētidus, which literally means "stinking" or "having a bad smell." This word itself is built from the Latin verb fētēre, which means "to stink."

This word was adopted into English in the early 1400s (the 15th century). From its very first use, it has always meant exactly what it does today: having a heavy, offensive, or disgusting odor, like that of something rotting. Its meaning has not changed at all over the centuries.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Fetid

The word fetid is a very specific adjective and isn't used in many common, fixed idioms. It's more often used in descriptive phrases, especially in literature and journalism, to create a powerful, negative sensory image.

Here is a list of common phrases using "fetid," followed by idioms that use synonyms to achieve a similar effect.

Phrases Using "Fetid"

1. Fetid air: Describing a stale, unventilated, and foul-smelling room or space.

2. Fetid breath: A common description for extremely bad breath.

3. Fetid swamp / marsh / bog: A classic descriptive phrase for stagnant, rotting wetlands.

4. Fetid water: Referring to any stagnant, polluted, or undrinkable water.

5. A fetid odor / stench: A common pairing, simply meaning a disgusting smell.

6. The fetid atmosphere of (something): Used metaphorically to describe a toxic or corrupt environment (e.g., "the fetid atmosphere of the court").

Idioms with a Similar Effect (Using Synonyms)

Since "fetid" doesn't have many idioms, here are some that convey a similar sense of something being foul, corrupt, or disgusting.

Using "Stinking"

1. To stink to high heaven: To smell incredibly bad, or to be morally outrageous.

2. A stinking suspicion: (A variation of "sneaking suspicion") A very strong, unpleasant feeling that something is true.

3. Stinking rich: So wealthy that it's considered offensive or excessive.

4. A stinking liar: A completely dishonest and contemptible person.

5. (That) stinks!: A very common idiom meaning "That's terrible!" or "That's unfair!"

Using "Foul"

1. Foul play: Deception, treachery, or criminal violence, especially murder.

2. To fall/run afoul of (someone or something): To get into trouble with a person or the law.

3. A foul mood: A very bad, angry, or irritable temper.

4. By fair means or foul: To do whatever is necessary (whether honest or dishonest) to achieve a goal.

5. Foul-mouthed: Habitually using profane, obscene, or abusive language.

6. To cry foul: To protest that something is unfair or against the rules.

Using "Rank"

1. Rank and file: The ordinary members of an organization, as opposed to its leaders. (Note: This "rank" is a different word, related to military lines, but is a very common idiom).

2. To pull rank: To use one's authority or position to get what one wants.

3. (To be) rank: In modern slang, this means something is disgusting, terrible, or smells awful (e.g., "That old cheese is rank.").

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of fetid from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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