Verb

(en verb)

To become septic; to become rotten.

* Milton

Wounds immedicable / Rankle, and fester , and gangrene.

To worsen, especially due to lack of attention.

Deal with the problem immediately; do not let it fester .

* Macaulay

Hatred festered in the hearts of the children of the soil.

To cause to fester or rankle.

* Marston

For which I burnt in inward, swelt'ring hate, / And fester'd rankling malice in my breast.

Verb

To form or discharge pus.

To cause to generate pus.

to suppurate a sore

* {{quote-book

, year=1600-1700 , author= , title=An essay concerning the effects of air on human bodies , chapter= citation , isbn= , page=178 , passage=by the Inflammation and Suppuration of the axillary, inguinal, and other Glands, or in beginning Gangrenes...}}