English word rotten comes from Proto-Indo-European *rewd-, Proto-Indo-European *Hrewd-, and later Proto-Germanic *rutjaną (To rot.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *rewd- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *Hrewd- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *rutjaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To rot. |
| *rutōną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To rot. |
| rotinn | Old Norse (non) | |
| rotian | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | |
| roten | Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) | |
| rotten | English (eng) | To an extreme degree. Bad or terrible.. Cruel, mean or immoral.. In a state of decay.. Of perishable items, overridden with bacteria and other infectious agents. |