'tain't - The Dictionary

taint 1 (t?nt)tr.v. taint·ed, taint·ing, taints 1. To affect or associate with something undesirable or reprehensible: a reputation that was tainted by allegations of illegal activity.2. a. To expose to an infectious agent, toxin, or undesirable substance: drinking water that is tainted with parasites; toothpaste that is tainted with toxic metals.b. To subject to decay or putrefaction: would not eat the meat for fear that it was tainted. See Synonyms at contaminate.n.1. An undesirable or corrupting influence or association: wanted to avoid the taint of an accounting scandal. See Synonyms at stain.2. An undesirable quality; a defect or shortcoming: “I confess to a taint of exhibitionism” (F. Scott Fitzgerald).[Partly from obsolete taynt, to color, dye (from Anglo-Norman teint, from past participle of teindre, from Latin tingere), and partly from Middle English tainten, to convict (short for atteinten, from Old French ataint, past participle of ataindre, to attain, touch upon; see attain).]taint?less adj.taint?less·ly adv.taint 2 (t?nt)n. Vulgar Slang The perineum.[From such phrases as ’tain’t asshole and ’tain’t pussy and ’tain’t asshole and ’tain’t balls.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.taint (te?nt) vb1. to affect or be affected by pollution or contamination: oil has tainted the water. 2. to tarnish (someone’s reputation, etc)n3. a defect or flaw: a taint on someone’s reputation. 4. a trace of contamination or infection[C14: (influenced by attaint infected, from attain) from Old French teindre to dye, from Latin tingere to dye] ?taintless adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014taint (te?nt) n. 1. a trace of something bad or offensive. 2. a trace of infection or contamination. v.t. 3. to modify by a trace of something bad or offensive. 4. to infect or contaminate. 5. to sully or tarnish (a person’s name, reputation, etc.). v.i. 6. to become tainted; spoil. [1325?75; conflation of Middle English taynt (aph. variant of attaint, past participle of attaint) with late Middle English taynt hue, tint (