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taint 1 (tānt)
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tr.v. taint·ed, taint·ing, taints
1. To affect or associate with something undesirable or reprehensible: a reputation that was tainted by allegations of illegal activity.
2.
a. To expose to an infectious agent, toxin, or undesirable substance: drinking water that is tainted with parasites; toothpaste that is tainted with toxic metals.
b. To subject to decay or putrefaction: would not eat the meat for fear that it was tainted. See Synonyms at contaminate.
n.
1. An undesirable or corrupting influence or association: wanted to avoid the taint of an accounting scandal. See Synonyms at stain.
2. An undesirable quality; a defect or shortcoming: "I confess to a taint of exhibitionism" (F. Scott Fitzgerald).

[Partly from obsolete taynt, to color, dye (from Anglo-Norman teint, from past participle of teindre, from Latin tingere), and partly from Middle English tainten, to convict (short for atteinten, from Old French ataint, past participle of ataindre, to attain, touch upon; see ATTAIN).]

taintless adj.
taintless·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
taint 2 (tānt)
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n.
Vulgar Slang
The perineum.

[From such phrases as 'tain't asshole and 'tain't pussy and 'tain't asshole and 'tain't balls.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.