Taint, n. — Webster enters it under “taint”
Etymology: [Cf. F. atteinte a blow, bit, stroke. See Attaint.]
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.]
5 other Webster entries under this spelling
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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists tainted only as an antonym, under pure.
Where he writes about it:
Tainted meat is repulsive; infected meat contains germs of disease. — from defile