Taint
TAINT, verb transitive [Latin tingo; Gr. to dye, literally to dip, primarily to thrust, the sense of Latin tango; and n not being radical, the real word is tego or tago, coinciding with Eng. duck; hence its sense in extinguo. See Dye, Attaint and Tinge.]
1. To imbue or impregnate, as with some extraneous matter which alters the sensible qualities of the substance.
The spaniel struck
Stiff by the tainted gale--
2. More generally, to impregnate with something odious, noxious or poisonous; as, putrid substances taint the air.
3. To infect; to poison. The breath of consumptive lungs is said to taint sound lungs.
4. To corrupt, as by incipient putrefaction; as tainted meat.
5. To stain; to sully; to tarnish.
We come not by the way of accusation
To taint that honor every good tongue blesses.
6. To corrupt, as blood; to attaint. [Not in use.] [See Attaint.]
TAINT, verb intransitive To be infected or corrupted; to be touched with something corrupting.
I cannot taint with fear.
1. To be affected with incipient putrefaction.
Meat soon taints in warm weather.
TAINT, noun Tincture; stain.
1. Infection; corruption; depravation. Keep children from the taint of low and vicious company.
2. A stain; a spot; a blemish on reputation.
3. An insect; a kind of spider.