taint
noun/teɪnt/
/teɪnt/
[usually singular] (formal)- the effect of something bad or unpleasant that damages or harms the quality of somebody/something
- to be free from the taint of corruption
- trying to save his son from the taint of prison
Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb in the sense ‘convict, prove guilty’): partly from Old French teint ‘tinged’, based on Latin tingere ‘to dye, tinge’; partly a shortening of attaint.Want to learn more?
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