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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 Word Forms

�ܲ�·�ٲ��Գ�·��Բ� adjective

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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

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The FDA also refrained from naming all firms and companies that handled and processed the tainted lettuce.

From

His independent streak and defiance of colonial protocols often landed him in trouble - tainting his reputation and perhaps even erasing parts of his contribution from global memory.

From

Additionally, the agency redacted the names of all firms and companies that handled and processed the tainted lettuce.

From

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.

From

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

From

Related Words

�ղ�í�Դ�tainted

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