TAINT Definition & Meaning

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taint

[ teynt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a trace of something bad, offensive, or harmful.
Synonyms: , , , , ,
a trace of infection, contamination, or the like.
a trace of dishonor or discredit.
Obsolete. color; tint.

verb (used with object)

to modify by or as if by a trace of something offensive or deleterious.
to infect, contaminate, corrupt, or spoil.
Synonyms: , ,
to sully or tarnish (a person's name, reputation, etc.).
Synonyms: ,
Obsolete. to color or tint.

verb (used without object)

to become tainted; spoil.

taint

or t'aint

noun

Slang: Vulgar.

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

taint

/ �ٱ�ɪ�Գ� /

verb

to affect or be affected by pollution or contamination
oil has tainted the water
to tarnish (someone's reputation, etc)

noun

a defect or flaw
a taint on someone's reputation
a trace of contamination or infection

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Derived Forms

ˈ�ٲ��Գٱ��, adjective

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

�ܲ�·�ٲ��Գ�·��Բ� adjective

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51�Թ� 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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of taint¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There was a purity within us as young creators — we hadn’t been tainted by the world in a way, so it was like we could trust our gut.

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As the four-time loser of a French presidential election, finally denied power by the taint of corruption.

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Such cheerful platitudes would carry a taint of irony, in retrospect, when authorities exposed the harm and suffering they alleged had been inflicted under Guo's watch.

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Escaping the taint of what spilled from the capsule and cut that day has been hard for all involved.

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This is just one witness in a case which Jagtar's legal representatives from Reprieve say is characterised by unreliable, even tainted, testimony.

From

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