{ } a. [ L. mephiticus, fr. mephitis mephitis: cf. F. méphitique. ] 1. Tending to destroy life; poisonous; noxious; as, mephitic exhalations; mephitic regions. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Offensive to the smell; as, mephitic odors. [ 1913 Webster ]
Mephitic air (Chem.), carbon dioxide; -- so called because of its deadly suffocating power. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. [ 1913 Webster ]