taint /ˈtent/
 汙點,恥辱,感染(vt.)汙染,使腐敗,霑染,腐蝕
 Taint n.
 1. A thrust with a lance, which fails of its intended effect. [Obs.]
    This taint he followed with his sword drawn from a silver sheath.   --Chapman.
 2. An injury done to a lance in an encounter, without its being broken; also, a breaking of a lance in an encounter in a dishonorable or unscientific manner. [Obs.]
 Taint, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tainted p. pr. & vb. n. Tainting.] To thrust ineffectually with a lance. [Obs.]
 Taint, v. t.
 1. To injure, as a lance, without breaking it; also, to break, as a lance, but usually in an unknightly or unscientific manner. [Obs.]
 Do not fear; I have
 A staff to taint, and bravely.   --Massinger.
 2. To hit or touch lightly, in tilting. [Obs.]
    They tainted each other on the helms and passed by.   --Ld. Berners.
 Taint, v. t.
 1. To imbue or impregnate with something extraneous, especially with something odious, noxious, or poisonous; hence, to corrupt; to infect; to poison; as, putrid substance taint the air.
 2. Fig.: To stain; to sully; to tarnish.
 His unkindness may defeat my life,
 But never taint my love.   --Shak.
 Syn: -- To contaminate; defile; pollute; corrupt; infect; disease; vitiate; poison.
 Taint v. i.
 1. To be infected or corrupted; to be touched with something corrupting.
    I can not taint with fear.   --Shak.
 2. To be affected with incipient putrefaction; as, meat soon taints in warm weather.
 Taint, n.
 1. Tincture; hue; color; tinge. [Obs.]
 2. Infection; corruption; deprivation.
    He had inherited from his parents a scrofulous taint, which it was beyond the power of medicine to remove.   --Macaulay.
 3. A blemish on reputation; stain; spot; disgrace.
 Taint v. t. Aphetic form of Attaint.
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 taint
      n : the state of being contaminated [syn: contamination]
      v 1: place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's
           reputation" [syn: defile, sully, corrupt, cloud]
      2: contaminate with a disease or microorganism [syn: infect]
         [ant: disinfect]