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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | Partly from Anglo-French teinter 'to color', from Latin tingere ( TINGE2); partly from Old French ataint, from ataindre ( ATTAIN) |
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taint1
[transitive usually passive]
[transitive usually passive]1 if something bad taints a situation or person, it makes the person or situation seem bad : 
Baker argues that his trial was tainted by negative publicity.
Baker argues that his trial was tainted by negative publicity.2 to damage something by adding an unwanted substance to it
