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taint

taint [ taynt ]


transitive verb  (past and past participle taint·ed, present participle taint·ing, 3rd person present singular taints)
Definition:
 
1. pollute something: to pollute or contaminate something with something undesirable or dangerous

2. corrupt somebody morally: to corrupt somebody morally, or detract from somebody's reputation by associating him or her with something reprehensible

3. flavor something: to unintentionally give a scent or flavor of one thing to another

4. spoil something: to make something such as fruit or vegetables rotten
The peaches are tainted.



noun  (plural taints)
Definition:
 
1. imperfection detracting from quality: an imperfection that detracts from the quality of somebody or something
a taint on her reputation

2. something that pollutes: something that detracts from the purity or cleanliness of something

[Late 16th century. Partly < Anglo-Norman teint "colored, dyed" < Latin tingere "moisten, dye," partly < Old French ataint "convicted," past participle of ateindre (see attain)]

taint·less adjective
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