a. Also 6 feaculent, 7–9 fæculent. [a. Fr. féculent, ad. L. fæculentus, f. fæc-, fæx: see FÆCES and -ULENT.]
1. Containing or of the nature of fæces or dregs; abounding with sediment or impurities; thick, turbid. Now usually with stronger sense: Laden or polluted with filth; foul, fetid.
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., III. in Ashm. (1652), 140.
| And by this sight thou shalt wit, | |
| From feculent feces when it is quit. |
1578. J. Banister, The Historie of Man, V. 81. This is the true description of ye splene, ordained of nature to be the receptacle of the grosse & feaculent part of bloud confected in the liuer.
1607. Topsell, Serpents (1608), 70–1. They [bees] will not dwell in houses impure & foule, sluttish, blacke, or full of any feculent or dreggy refuse.
1686. J. Goad, Astro-meteorologica, III. iii. 445. A misty Air, Fog and Foeculent.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., Rev. xxii. 1. Here is not a Well of Water, but a River, not of muddy or feculent Water, but clear as Crystal, not corruptible or dead, but living Water, Water of Life.
1777. Howard, Prisons Eng. (1780), 8. Air which has performed its office in the lungs, is feculent and noxious.
1804. Med. Jrnl., XII. 469. The evacuation of fæculent matter.
fig. 1653. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 300. Such feculent stuff.
1660. Waterhouse, Arms & Arm., 200–1. A rare caution against ignorant, sordid and ridiculous Heralds, who are distinguishable from the fæculent plebs, rather by their gay Coats, then any skill, ingenuity, or grandeur of mind they express in their actions.
a. 1734. North, Exam., II. v. § 93 (1740), 373. Every Word here is feculent and stinks.
1866. Lond. Rev., 4 Aug., 130/1. The most feculent corruptions of modern civilization.
† 2. Covered with fæces; filthy. Obs.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vii. 61. Both his handes most filthy feculent.
