rotted

Everyday

1. Rotted is the past form of «rot»: something rotted when it went bad and broke down slowly because of germs, fungi, damp or age. tree →
2. As an adjective it means decayed, but people usually say «rotten». tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons decay shows how bacteria and fungi break down dead plants and food into soil (compost). In everyday life fruit rots, wood rots in the damp, and sugar can make teeth rot. Phrases: «rotted away», «rotted wood», «rot your teeth».

Examples

• The apples rotted on the ground. tree →
• The old wooden fence rotted in the rain. tree →
• The leaves rotted and turned into compost. tree →
• His teeth rotted because he ate too many sweets and didn't brush. tree →
• The bridge was unsafe because the planks had rotted. tree →
• We watched a pumpkin as it rotted over three weeks. tree →
• He sat down there quite naked, for all his clothes had rotted and dropped off inside the fish. tree →

Note

Past of «rot» with a double t: rot → rotted, rotting. The usual adjective is «rotten» («a rotten egg»), which also means very bad in slang. Never eat food that looks or smells rotten.

In Jewish tradition

It means went bad; the manna kept against Moses's order spoiled and bred worms.

Interpretation. The rabbis read it as a lesson to trust God day by day and not to hoard.

Examples

• Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and rotted; and Moses was wroth with them. (Torah EXO.16.20, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past of «rot» with a double t: rot → rotted, rotting. The usual adjective is «rotten» («a rotten egg»), which also means very bad in slang. Never eat food that looks or smells rotten.