taint
pronunciation
How to pronounce taint in British English:
UK [teɪnt]
How to pronounce taint in American English:
US [tent]
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- Noun:
- the state of being contaminated
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- Verb:
- place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
- contaminate with a disease or microorganism
Word Origin
- taint
- taint: see tinge
- taint (v.)
- 1570s, "to corrupt, contaminate," also "to touch, tinge, imbue slightly" (1590s), from Middle English teynten "to convict, prove guilty" (late 14c.), partly from Old French ataint, past participle of ataindre "to touch upon, seize" (see attainder). Also from Anglo-French teinter "to color, dye" (early 15c.), from Old French teint (12c.), past participle of teindre "to dye, color," from Latin tingere (see tincture). Related: Tainted; tainting.
- taint (n.)
- c. 1600, "stain, spot," from Old French teint "color, hue, dye, stain," from Latin tinctus "a dyeing," from tingere "to dye" (see tincture). Meaning "a moral stain, corruption, contaminating influence" is from 1610s.
Example
- 1. Rim will get over the brand taint , if there is one .
- 2. The sports leagues worry that betting will taint their product .
- 3. Moral taint has spread among young people .
- 4. In other respects , the taint of private care has gone , and foreign investment is encouraged .
- 5. Avoid anything that might undermine your personal standards or taint your views .