/taynt/ , n.
1. a trace of something bad, offensive, or harmful.
2. a trace of infection, contamination, or the like.
3. a trace of dishonor or discredit.
4. Obs. color; tint.
v.t.
5. to modify by or as if by a trace of something offensive or deleterious.
6. to infect, contaminate, corrupt, or spoil.
7. to sully or tarnish (a person's name, reputation, etc.).
8. Obs. to color or tint.
v.i.
9. to become tainted; spoil.
[ 1325-75; conflation of ME taynt, aph. var. of attaint struck, attainted, ptp. of attainten to ATTAINT; late ME taynt hue, TINT teint ( tinctus, equiv. to ting ( ere ) to dye, TINGE + -tus suffix of v. action); and teinte tincta inked stroke, n. use of fem. of ptp. of tingere ]
Syn. 1. defect, spot, flaw, fault. 1, 7 . blemish, stain. 6. defile, pollute, poison.