/ teɪnt; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
[ vn ] [ often passive ] taint sth (with sth) ( formal ) to damage or spoil the quality of sth or the opinion that people have of sb/sth :
The administration was tainted with scandal.
► taint·ed adjective :
tainted drinking water
■ noun
[ usually sing. ] the effect of sth bad or unpleasant that spoils the quality of sb/sth :
to be free from the taint of corruption
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a verb in the sense convict, prove guilty ): partly from Old French teint tinged, based on Latin tingere to dye, tinge; partly a shortening of attaint .