[taint] vb [ME tainten to color & taynten to attaint; ME tainten, fr. AF teinter, fr. MF teint, pp. of teindre, fr. L tingere; ME taynten, fr. MF ataint, pp. of ataindre--more at tinge, attain] vt (1573) 1: to contaminate morally: corrupt "scholarship ~ed by envy"
2: to affect with putrefaction: spoil
3: to touch or affect slightly with something bad "persons ~ed with prejudice" ~ vi 1 obs: to become weak
2: to become affected with putrefaction: spoil syn see contaminate
[2]taint n (1601): a contaminating mark or influence -- taint.less adj