1. (n.) A thrust with a lance, which fails of its intended effect.

2. (n.) 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.

3. (v. i.) To thrust ineffectually with a lance.

4. (v. t.) To injure, as a lance, without breaking it; also, to break, as a lance, but usually in an unknightly or unscientific manner.

5. (v. t.) To hit or touch lightly, in tilting.

6. (v. t.) 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.

7. (v. t.) Fig.: To stain; to sully; to tarnish.

8. (v. i.) To be infected or corrupted; to be touched with something corrupting.

9. (v. i.) To be affected with incipient putrefaction; as, meat soon taints in warm weather.

10. (n.) Tincture; hue; color; tinge.

11. (n.) Infection; corruption; deprivation.

12. (n.) A blemish on reputation; stain; spot; disgrace.

abuse adulterate aerial infection afflict aggrieve airborne infection alloy aroma aspersion attaint attribute badge badge of infamy bar sinister baton bedaub befoul benasty bend sinister besmear besmirch besmoke bespatter bestain bewitch black eye black mark blacken blemish blight bloodstain blot blotch blow upon blur brand broad arrow bug cachet canker carrier cast catch censure champain character characteristic cheapen cloud coarsen communicability condemn configuration confound contagion contagiousness contaminate contamination corrupt crack crucify cryptogenic infection curse cut dab damage darken dash daub debase debauch defame defect defection deficiency defile deflower degenerate degrade denature deprave desecrate despoil destroy devalue differentia differential direct infection dirty disadvantage disapprove discolor discredit disease dishonor disparage disparagement disserve distinctive feature distort distress do a mischief do evil do ill do wrong do wrong by doom drawback droplet infection dust infection earmark envenom epidemiology expose expose to infamy eyesore failing failure fault faute feature figure flavor flaw fleck flick flyspeck foible foul frailty get into trouble gibbet gust hallmark hand infection hang in effigy harass harm hex hint hole hurt idiocrasy idiosyncrasy impair imperfection impress impression imputation inadequacy index indirect infection individualism infect infection infectiousness infirmity infusion injure inkling intimation jinx keynote kink lineaments little problem macula maculation macule maltreat mannerism mark mark of Cain marking menace mess mess up mistreat misuse mold molest muddy nasty nature odor onus outrage particularity patch peculiarity persecute pervert phytogenic infection pillory pillorying play havoc with play hob with point champain poison pollute prejudice primary infection problem property prostitute pyogenic infection quality quirk ravage ravish reflection reprimand reproach rift ruin sauce savage savor scar scathe scorch seal sear seasoning secondary infection shade shape shortcoming singe singularity slubber slur smack smear smirch smoke smouch smudge smut smutch snag soil something missing soupcon spatter specialty speck speckle spice splash splatter splotch spoil spot