Contaminate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contaminated; p.pr. & vb.n. Contaminating.]
Etymology: [L. contaminatus, p.p. of contaminare to bring into contact, to contaminate, fr. contamen contagion, for contagmen; con- + root of tangere to touch. See Contact.]
To soil, stain, or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to sully; to taint; to pollute; to defile. Shall we now Contaminate our figures with base bribes Shak. I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated. Goldsmith.
Syn. -- To pollute; defile; sully; taint; tarnish; soil; stain; corrupt.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Contaminate, a.
Contaminated; defiled; polluted; tainted. "Contaminate drink." Daniel.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for contaminate; he lists it under defile.
Where he writes about it:
Contaminate and infect refer to something evil that deeply pervades and permeates, as the human body or mind. — from defile
In figurative use, defile may be used merely in the ceremonial sense; "they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled," John xviii, 28; contaminate refers to deep spiritual injury. — from defile