n.
Pronunciation: ' t ā nt
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English teynten to color & taynten to attaint; Middle English teynten, from Anglo-French teinter, from teint, past participle of teindre, from Latin tingere; Middle English taynten, short for attaynten ― more at TINGE , ATTAIN
Date: 1573
transitive verb
1 : to contaminate morally : CORRUPT <scholarship taint ed by envy>
2 : to affect with putrefaction : SPOIL
3 : to touch or affect slightly with something bad <persons taint ed with prejudice>
intransitive verb
1 obsolete : to become weak
2 : to become affected with putrefaction : SPOIL
synonyms see CONTAMINATE