mephitis
- noun
- /mɛˈfaɪtɪs/
- Specialized
:
mefitis
- The miners wore masks to protect themselves from the mephitis rising from the cracks.
Examples
-
Residents complained about the mephitis emanating from the marsh, which made it difficult to breathe.
-
Scientists studied the effects of the volcanic mephitis on nearby plant life.
-
Ancient legends often described places where mephitis would seep out and sicken local residents.
-
The mephitis from the volcano was unbearable.
-
We could smell the mephitis long before we arrived.
-
The scientists analyzed the mephitis released by the volcanic eruption to understand its impact on the environment.
-
During their hike, they encountered a spot where mephitis had formed, warning them to steer clear for safety.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A bad smell of gases from decaying or chemical waste
Harmful, often poisonous gases that come from under the ground
A bad, unhealthy air that makes people feel sick
Compounds
- Specialized
A small black and white skunk with a long white hood found in Mexico and the southern United States
How Toxic
Surface Forms
Etymology
Mephitis comes from Latin mephitis, a word for a 'poisonous vapor' that was said to rise from marshes or volcanoes, like a dangerous, bad-smelling gas from the ground. That's why mephitis can mean a poisonous or foul-smelling gas emitted from the earth.