8  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Taint  \Taint\,  v.  t. 
  Aphetic  form  of  {Attaint}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Taint  \Taint\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  be  infected  or  corrupted;  to  be  touched  with  something 
  corrupting. 
 
  I  can  not  taint  with  fear.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  To  be  affected  with  incipient  putrefaction;  as  meat  soon 
  taints  in  warm  weather. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Taint  \Taint\,  n. 
  1.  Tincture;  hue;  color;  tinge.  [Obs.] 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Taint  \Taint\,  n.  [Cf.  F.  atteinte  a  blow,  bit,  stroke.  See 
  {Attaint}.] 
  1.  A  thrust  with  a  lance,  which  fails  of  its  intended  effect. 
  [Obs.] 
 
  This  taint  he  followed  with  his  sword  drawn  from  a 
  silver  sheath.  --Chapman. 
 
  2.  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.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Taint  \Taint\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Tainted};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Tainting}.] 
  To  thrust  ineffectually  with  a  lance.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Taint  \Taint\,  v.  t. 
  1.  To  injure,  as  a  lance,  without  breaking  it  also  to 
  break,  as  a  lance,  but  usually  in  an  unknightly  or 
  unscientific  manner.  [Obs.] 
 
  Do  not  fear;  I  have  A  staff  to  taint,  and  bravely. 
  --Massinger. 
 
  2.  To  hit  or  touch  lightly,  in  tilting.  [Obs.] 
 
  They  tainted  each  other  on  the  helms  and  passed  by 
  --Ld.  Berners 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Taint  \Taint\,  v.  t.  [F.  teint,  p.  p.  of  teindre  to  dye,  tinge, 
  fr  L.  tingere,  tinctum  See  {Tinge},  and  cf  {Tint}.] 
  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.  Fig.:  To  stain;  to  sully;  to  tarnish. 
 
  His  unkindness  may  defeat  my  life,  But  never  taint 
  my  love.  --Shak. 
 
  Syn:  To  contaminate;  defile;  pollute;  corrupt;  infect; 
  disease;  vitiate;  poison. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  taint 
  n  :  the  state  of  being  contaminated  [syn:  {contamination}] 
  v  1:  place  under  suspicion  or  cast  doubt  upon  "sully  someone's 
  reputation"  [syn:  {defile},  {sully},  {corrupt},  {cloud}] 
  2:  contaminate  with  a  disease  or  microorganism  [syn:  {infect}] 
  [ant:  {disinfect}] 

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