Literary notes about putrid (AI summary)
In literature, "putrid" is employed with notable versatility to evoke intense sensory disgust and to underscore themes of decay, corruption, and degradation. It frequently describes physical decomposition and the deterioration of organic substances, as when blister contents are said to become putrid from microbial activity ([1]) or water takes on a briny, putrid taste ([2]). Beyond its literal use, the term also amplifies the horror of degenerative forces, as in narratives where the end of a gruesome ordeal is marked by the cessation of a putrid horror ([3]) or when bodily decay is mirrored in the moral decline of characters ([4]). Through such vivid applications, writers ensure that "putrid" not only conjures images of rotting matter but also becomes a potent metaphor for the corruption inherent in both nature and society.