TAINT
contamination, taint
(noun) the state of being contaminated
infect, taint
(verb) contaminate with a disease or microorganism
defile, sully, corrupt, taint, cloud
(verb) place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; “sully someone’s reputation”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
taint (plural taints)
A contamination, decay or putrefaction, especially in food
A mark of disgrace, especially on one's character; blemish
(obsolete) tincture; hue; colour
(obsolete) infection; corruption; deprivation
(programming) A marker indicating that a variable is unsafe and should be subjected to additional security checks.
Verb
taint (third-person singular simple present taints, present participle tainting, simple past and past participle tainted)
(transitive) To contaminate or corrupt (something) with an external agent, either physically or morally.
(transitive) To spoil (food) by contamination.
(intransitive) To be infected or corrupted; to be touched by something corrupting.
(intransitive) To be affected with incipient putrefaction.
(transitive, computing, programming) To mark (a variable) as unsafe, so that operations involving it are subject to additional security checks.
(transitive, AU, finance) To invalidate (a share capital account) by transferring profits into it.
Etymology 2
Noun
taint (plural taints)
A thrust with a lance, which fails of its intended effect.
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.
Verb
taint (third-person singular simple present taints, present participle tainting, simple past and past participle tainted)
(transitive) To damage, as a lance, without breaking it; also, to break, as a lance, but usually in an unknightly or unscientific manner.
(transitive) To hit or touch lightly, in tilting.
(intransitive) To thrust ineffectually with a lance.
Etymology 3
Noun
taint (plural taints)
(US, slang) The perineum.
Etymology 4
Contraction
taint
Alternative spelling of 'taint
Anagrams
• Nitta, Titan, nitta, tinta, titan
Source: Wiktionary
Taint, n. Etym: [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.]
Taint, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Tainting.]
Definition: To thrust ineffectually with a lance. [Obs.]
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.
Taint, v. t. Etym: [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.
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.
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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition