Taint (?), v. t. Aphetic form of Attaint.
Taint , n.
1. Tincture; hue; color; tinge. [Obs.]
2.
Infection; corruption; deprivation.
He had inherited from his parents a scrofulous taint, which it was beyond
the power of medicine to remove.
Macaulay. 3. A blemish on reputation; stain; spot; disgrace.
Taint (?), v. i. 1. To
be infected or corrupted; to be touched with something
corrupting.
I can not taint with fear.
Shak.
2. To be affected with incipient putrefaction; as, meat soon taints in warm weather.
Taint , 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.
2. Fig.: To stain; to sully; to tarnish.
His unkindness may defeat my life,
But never taint my love.
Shak. Syn. -- To contaminate; defile; pollute; corrupt; infect; disease; vitiate; poison.
Taint , v. t. 1. To
injure, as a
lance, without breaking it; also, to break, as a lance, but usually in an unknightly or unscientific manner.
[Obs.]
Do not fear; I have
A staff to taint, and bravely.
Massinger.
2. To hit
or touch lightly, in tilting. [Obs.]
They tainted each other on the
helms and passed by.
Ld. Berners.
Taint , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tainted (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Tainting.]
To thrust ineffectually with a lance. [Obs.]
Taint (?), n. [Cf. F. atteinte a blow, bit, stroke. See Attaint.]
1. A thrust with
a lance, which fails of its intended effect. [Obs.]
This taint he followed with his sword drawn from a
silver sheath.
Chapman. 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.]
Hear it pronounced