rottedness

From Middle English rotidnes; equivalent to rotted +‎ -ness.

rottedness (uncountable)

1. (rare) rottenness
   • 1798 October 1, Thomas Jefferson, “Petition of the Election of Jurors”, in The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: 1795-1801‎, published 1896, page 285:

     That in others of these states, [and particularly in those to the eastward of the union,¹] this germ of rottedness in the constitution of juries has been carefully excluded, and their laws have provided with laudable foresight for the appointment of jurors by selectmen chosen by the people themselves […]

   • 1980, Enid Rhodes Peschel, Medicine and literature‎, page 197:

     To behold earth itself as compost (rather than a small section or heap of it) is to behold it in the condition of rottedness and manure, of waste and leavings. But the shift is not only tonal or textural, from sweet green growth to fetid brown decay.

   • 2006 January 1, Michael Dumanis; Cate Marvin, Legitimate Dangers: American Poets of the New Century‎, page 225:

     […] Then, in the crisp rottedness / That lines the question marks of steam / Coiling out of the potholes / Which I manage to avoid for the most part, / I ponder my wheelbarrow , and all / Of its inner-meaning, / which is far sweeter […]

   Synonym: rottenness