Hypertext Webster Gateway: "taint"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Taint \Taint\, v. t.
Aphetic form of {Attaint}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Taint \Taint\, v. i.
1. To be infected or corrupted; to be touched with something
corrupting.
I can not taint with fear. --Shak.
2. To be affected with incipient putrefaction; as, meat soon
taints in warm weather.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Taint \Taint\, n.
1. Tincture; hue; color; tinge. [Obs.]
2. Infection; corruption; deprivation.
He had inherited from his parents a scrofulous
taint, which it was beyond the power of medicine to
remove. --Macaulay.
3. A blemish on reputation; stain; spot; disgrace.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Taint \Taint\, n. [Cf. F. atteinte a blow, bit, stroke. See
{Attaint}.]
1. A thrust with a lance, which fails of its intended effect.
[Obs.]
This taint he followed with his sword drawn from a
silver sheath. --Chapman.
2. An injury done to a lance in an encounter, without its
being broken; also, a breaking of a lance in an encounter
in a dishonorable or unscientific manner. [Obs.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Taint \Taint\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Tainted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Tainting}.]
To thrust ineffectually with a lance. [Obs.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Taint \Taint\, v. t.
1. To injure, as a lance, without breaking it; also, to
break, as a lance, but usually in an unknightly or
unscientific manner. [Obs.]
Do not fear; I have A staff to taint, and bravely.
--Massinger.
2. To hit or touch lightly, in tilting. [Obs.]
They tainted each other on the helms and passed by.
--Ld. Berners.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Taint \Taint\, v. t. [F. teint, p. p. of teindre to dye, tinge,
fr. L. tingere, tinctum. See {Tinge}, and cf. {Tint}.]
1. To imbue or impregnate with something extraneous,
especially with something odious, noxious, or poisonous;
hence, to corrupt; to infect; to poison; as, putrid
substance taint the air.
2. Fig.: To stain; to sully; to tarnish.
His unkindness may defeat my life, But never taint
my love. --Shak.
Syn: To contaminate; defile; pollute; corrupt; infect;
disease; vitiate; poison.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
taint
n : the state of being contaminated [syn: {contamination}]
v 1: place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's
reputation" [syn: {defile}, {sully}, {corrupt}, {cloud}]
2: contaminate with a disease or microorganism [syn: {infect}]
[ant: {disinfect}]
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