mephitis

[ muh-fahy-tis ]

noun

1. (in nontechnical use) a noxious or pestilential exhalation from the earth, as poison gas.
2. any noisome or poisonous stench.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mephitis¹

1700–10; < Latin mephītis, mefītis; compare Oscan Mefit ( eí ) the goddess of such exhalations

Example Sentences

Mephitis mephitis estor Merriam Striped Skunk D. Watson advises me that striped skunks are fairly common around the entrance to the Park, along the foot of the Mesa, and along the Mancos River.

From Project Gutenberg

Azote is one of the most abundant elements; combined with caloric it forms azotic gas, or mephitis, which composes nearly two thirds of the atmosphere.

From Project Gutenberg

Instantly a cone of black mephitis shot forth, a loathsome, bituminous stream of putrefaction that reeked of the grave and the cesspool, of the utmost reaches of decay before the dust accepts the disintegrated atoms.

From Project Gutenberg

The odor of corruption, the saeva mephitis, has by this time exhaled.

From Project Gutenberg

Come along with me, and get the mephitis blown out of you.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• smell
• stink