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
(Taint), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tainted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Tainting.] To thrust ineffectually with a
lance. [Obs.]
Taint
(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
(Taint), v. t. [F. teint, p. p. of teindre to dye, tinge, fr. L. tingere, tinctum. See Tinge, and cf.
Tint.]
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
(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
(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.
Taintless
(Taint"less), a. Free from taint or infection; pure.
Taintlessly
(Taint"less*ly), adv. In a taintless manner.
Tainture
(Tain"ture) n. [F. teinture. See Taint to stain, and cf. Tincture.] Taint; tinge; difilement; stain; spot.
[R.] Shak.
Taintworm
(Taint"worm`) n. (Zoöl.) A destructive parasitic worm or insect larva.
