Lexic.us

Definition of Taint

1. Verb. Place under suspicion or cast doubt upon. "Sully someone's reputation"

2. Noun. The state of being contaminated.

3. Verb. Contaminate with a disease or microorganism.

Definition of Taint

1. n. A thrust with a lance, which fails of its intended effect.

2. v. i. To thrust ineffectually with a lance.

3. v. t. To injure, as a lance, without breaking it; also, to break, as a lance, but usually in an unknightly or unscientific manner.

4. v. t. 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.

5. v. i. To be infected or corrupted; to be touched with something corrupting.

6. n. Tincture; hue; color; tinge.

7. v. t. Aphetic form of Attaint.

Definition of Taint

1. Noun. A (contamination), (decay) or (putrefaction), especially in (food) ¹

2. Noun. A mark of (disgrace), especially on one's (character); blemish ¹

3. Noun. (obsolete) tincture; hue; colour ¹

4. Noun. (obsolete) infection; corruption; deprivation ¹

5. Verb. To (contaminate) or (corrupt) (something) with an external (agent), either (physically) or (morally). ¹

6. Verb. To (spoil) (food) by (contamination). ¹

7. Noun. A (thrust) with a (lance), which fails of its intended (effect). ¹

8. Noun. 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. ¹

9. Noun. (slang) The (perineum). ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Taint

1. to touch or affect slightly with something bad [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Taint

1. 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. To stain; to sully; to tarnish. "His unkindness may defeat my life, But never taint my love." (Shak) Synonym: To contaminate, defile, pollute, corrupt, infect, disease, vitiate, poison. Origin: F. Teint, p.p. Of teindre to dye, tinge, fr. L. Tingere, tinctum. See Tinge, and cf. Tint. 1. Tincture; hue; colour; tinge. 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: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Taint

tailwhip tailwhips tailwind tailwinds tailwort tailye tailyes tailzie tailzies taimen

taimens taimyrite tain tainiolite tains taint (current term) tainted taintedness tainter gate tainting

taintless taintlessly taints tainture taintures taintworm taintworms taipan taipans taipo

Literary usage of Taint

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. South Eastern Reporter by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, West Publishing Company, South Carolina Supreme Court (1919)
"An original taint of usury attaches to the whole family of consecutive obligations and securities growing out of the original vicious transaction; ..."

2. A Dictionary of the English Language: In which the Words are Deduced from ...by Samuel Johnson by Samuel Johnson (1805)
"We come not by the way of accusation To taint that honour every good tongue blesses. ... Sirens taint The minds of all men, whom they can acquaint ..."

3. A History of the Ancient Working People: From the Earliest Known Period to by Cyrenus Osborne Ward (1889)
"CHAPTER L taint OF LABOR. TRAITS AND PECULIARITIES OF RACES. ... Middle Class known to the Aryan Family— The taint of Labor an Inheritance through the Pagan ..."

4. The Ancient Lowly: A History of the Ancient Working People from the Earliest by Cyrenus Osborne Ward (1888)
"... No true Democracy — No primeval Middle Class known to the Aryan Family — The taint of Labor an Inheritance through the Pagan Religio-Political Economy. ..."

5. The Ancient Lowly: A History of the Ancient Working People from the Earliest by Cyrenus Osborne Ward (1888)
"... CHAPTER I taint OF LABOR TRAITS AND PECULIARITIES OF RACES GRIEVANCE of the Working Classes—The Competitive System among the Ancients—Growing Change of ..."

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