moldy
UK: ˈməʊldi | US: ˈmoʊldi
adj. covered with or containing mold (a fuzzy growth of fungi)
adj. stale or musty in smell or taste due to mold
adj. (figuratively) outdated or neglected
The word "moldy" combines "mold," derived from Old English mold (meaning "loose earth" or "decaying matter"), and the suffix "-y," which turns nouns into adjectives. Over time, "mold" shifted from referring to soil to specifically describing fungal growth on organic material. The suffix "-y" (from Old English -ig) adds the meaning "characterized by" or "full of," creating the sense of "covered in mold." The word vividly captures the transformation from literal decay to metaphorical obsolescence.
The bread turned moldy after being left in the damp cupboard for weeks.
The basement had a moldy smell that made it unpleasant to stay in.
His ideas were dismissed as moldy and irrelevant to modern discussions.
She threw away the moldy cheese without hesitation.
The old books were so moldy that they crumbled at the touch.