taint

¹

[ teynt ]

noun

1. a trace of something bad, offensive, or harmful.

   Synonyms: stain, blemish, spot, fault, flaw, defect

2. a trace of infection, contamination, or the like.
3. a trace of dishonor or discredit.
4. Obsolete. color; tint.

verb (used with object)

1. to modify by or as if by a trace of something offensive or deleterious.
2. to infect, contaminate, corrupt, or spoil.

   Synonyms: poison, pollute, defile

3. to sully or tarnish (a person's name, reputation, etc.).

   Synonyms: stain, dishonor

4. Obsolete. to color or tint.

verb (used without object)

1. to become tainted; spoil.

taint

²

or t'aint

noun

, Slang: Vulgar.

1. the area between the testicles or vulva and the anus; the perineum.

taint

/ teɪnt /

verb

1. to affect or be affected by pollution or contamination

   oil has tainted the water

2. to tarnish (someone's reputation, etc)

noun

1. a defect or flaw

   a taint on someone's reputation

2. a trace of contamination or infection

Derived Forms

• ˈtaintless, adjective

Other Words From

• un·taint·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of taint¹

First recorded in 1325–75; conflation of Middle English taynt, shortened variant of attaint “struck, attainted,” past participle of attainten “to convict” ( attaint ), late Middle English taynt “hue, tint” ( tint ), from Anglo-French teint or directly from Latin tinctus, equivalent to ting(ere) “to dye, color“ ( tinge ) + -tus suffix of verb action); and teinte, from Late Latin tincta “inked stroke,” noun use of feminine of past participle of tingere

Origin of taint²

First recorded in 1955–60; casual pronunciation of it ain’t (the one or the other), i.e., it is the area in between

Word History and Origins

Origin of taint¹

C14: (influenced by attaint infected, from attain ) from Old French teindre to dye, from Latin tingere to dye

Example Sentences

Through a group called the SommFoundation, she arranged a harvest internship at an Oregon winery, but that was canceled when the winery decided not to harvest because of smoke taint from wildfires.

From Washington Post

He warned that the taint of Bircherism could sink Reagan and other conservative candidates in 1966.

From Washington Post

Knowing could change the participant’s behavior and taint any data coming out of the trial, he says.

From Science News

Because most early diet sodas didn’t taste that great, strategists warned against associating their brands with drinks that might taint their tremendous value.

From No Straight News

Smoke is a problem for vintage 2020, as taint from extensive exposure ruins grapes and could significantly reduce the quantity of wine this year, especially reds.

From Fortune

Whether the charge will work to sufficiently taint Orman is another issue, says Popkin.

From The Daily Beast

Infiltration, though, may well taint all main rebel factions.

From The Daily Beast

In losing, however, he will taint his possible rivals—including Rand Paul—as pitiful members of the "surrender caucus."

From The Daily Beast

Once successfully in, I can see my Hash 160 and Taint Analysis, among other things.

From The Daily Beast

Random spot checks, so that getting checked carries no taint.

From The Daily Beast

The taint of commerce and the smoke of the north hangs visibly on the horizon.

From Project Gutenberg

The taint was too inveterate to be eradicated; the evil was immedicable; Rome was already effete and moribund.

From Project Gutenberg

It was spring in all its glory, without a taint of summer's heat, or a lingering chill of winter.

From Project Gutenberg

Krafft-Ebing said that he never saw a case of true and reasonably well developed paranoia without hereditary taint.

From Project Gutenberg

This and the peculiar notched or cleft teeth seem to point to an hereditary taint.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• besmirch
• blight
• cloud
• corrupt
• damage
• discredit
• harm
• hurt
• infect
• muddy
• poison
• pollute
• smear
• spoil
• stain
• sully
• tar
• tarnish