n. [ F. gangrène, L. gangraena, fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to gnaw, eat; cf. Skr. gras, gar, to devour, and E. voracious, also canker, n., in sense 3. ] (Med.) A term formerly restricted to mortification of the soft tissues which has not advanced so far as to produce complete loss of vitality; but now applied to mortification of the soft parts in any stage. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. & i.
a. Tending to mortification or gangrene. [ 1913 Webster ]