Main Entry: taint

Pronunciation: \ˈtānt\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English teynten to color & taynten to attaint; Middle English teynten, from Anglo-French teinter, from teint, past participle of teindre, from Latin tingere; Middle English taynten, short for attaynten — more at tinge, attain

Date: 1573

transitive verb

1 : to contaminate morally : corrupt
2 : to affect with putrefaction : spoil
3 : to touch or affect slightly with something bad

intransitive verb

1 obsolete : to become weak
2 : to become affected with putrefaction : spoil

synonyms see contaminate