taint > define

noun

• The state of being contaminated.
  • synonyms: contamination

verb

• Place under suspicion or cast doubt upon.
  • usage: "sully someone's reputation"
  • synonyms: defile, sully, corrupt, cloud
• Contaminate with a disease or microorganism.
  • synonyms: infect

• (v.t.) Aphetic form of Attaint.
• (v.i.) To thrust ineffectually with a lance.
• (n.) 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.
• (v.t.) To hit or touch lightly, in tilting.
• (v.t.) Fig.: To stain; to sully; to tarnish.
• (n.) Infection; corruption; deprivation.
• (v.i.) To be infected or corrupted; to be touched with something corrupting.
• (n.) Tincture; hue; color; tinge.
• (v.t.) 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.
• (n.) A blemish on reputation; stain; spot; disgrace.
• (v.t.) To injure, as a lance, without breaking it; also, to break, as a lance, but usually in an unknightly or unscientific manner.
• (n.) A thrust with a lance, which fails of its intended effect.
• (v.i.) To be affected with incipient putrefaction; as, meat soon taints in warm weather.