[no obj.][often as adj. festering](of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate (伤口,痛处)溃烂,化脓 a festering abscess. 正在溃烂的脓肿。 ■(of food or rubbish) become rotten and offensive to the senses (食物,垃圾)腐烂 sandwiches curled open to show festering meats. 三明治卷开了口,露出腐烂的肉。 ■(of a negative feeling or a problem) become worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference (消极的情感、问题)恶化,激化(尤指因长期忽略或冷淡所致) a festering controversy. 愈演愈烈的争论。 ■(of a person) undergo physical and mental deterioration in isolated inactivity (人因孤独和缺少活动而)身心退化;健康恶化 I might be festering in jail now. 因为待在牢里,我的健康可能正在恶化。
语源
late Middle English: from the rare word fester 'fistula', later 'festering sore', or Old French festrir (verb), both from Old French festre (noun), from Latin fistula 'pipe, reed, fistula'