fetid

 
Pronunciation: /ˈfɛtɪd, ˈfiːt-/
(also foetid)

adjective

  • smelling extremely unpleasant: the fetid water of the marsh

Derivatives

fetidly

adverb

fetidness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin fetidus (often erroneously spelled foetidus), from fetere 'to stink'. Compare with fetor

Spelling help

Fetid can also be spelled foetid, with an o before the e: both are correct, although fetid is more common.