n. & v.
--n.
1. a spot or trace of decay, infection, or some bad quality.
2 a corrupt condition or infection.
--v.
1. tr. affect with a taint.
2 tr. (foll. by with) affect slightly.
3 intr. become tainted.
Derivatives:
taintless adj.
Etymology: ME, partly f. OF teint(e) f. L tinctus f. tingere dye, partly f. ATTAINT