taint

n. [ Cf. F. atteinte a blow, bit, stroke. See Attaint. ] 1. A thrust with a lance, which fails of its intended effect. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This taint he followed with his sword drawn from a silver sheath. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Tainted p. pr. & vb. n. Tainting. ] To thrust ineffectually with a lance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: To stain; to sully; to tarnish. [ 1913 Webster ]

His unkindness may defeat my life,
But never taint my love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To contaminate; defile; pollute; corrupt; infect; disease; vitiate; poison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be infected or corrupted; to be touched with something corrupting. [ 1913 Webster ]

I can not taint with fear. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be affected with incipient putrefaction; as, meat soon taints in warm weather. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Tincture; hue; color; tinge. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Infection; corruption; deprivation. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had inherited from his parents a scrofulous taint, which it was beyond the power of medicine to remove. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A blemish on reputation; stain; spot; disgrace. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. Aphetic form of Attaint. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Free from taint or infection; pure. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a taintless manner. [ 1913 Webster ]