Now rare. Also 5–7 taynt-, 6–7 tainct-.
I. [a. OF. tainture, teinture coloring (13th c.), ad. L. tinctūra dyeing, TINCTURE; in sense 2 as in TAINT v. C.] † 1. Coloring. Obs.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, vi. 24. We wryte the grete and firste capytall lettres … wyth the taynture of reed coloure.
2. Tainting, staining, stain, defilement, infection.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. i. 188. Gloster, see here the Taincture of thy Nest, And looke thy selfe be faultlesse, thou wert best.
1609. Rawlinson, Fishermen, 11. To keepe it from the corruption and tainture of sin.
1634. T. Johnson, trans. Parey’s Chirurg., XVIII. ix. (1678), 419. There are … three distinct causes of gout: A tainture from the Parents [etc.].
1645. Ussher, Body Div. (1647), 126. It shining in him without tainture or blemish.
1681. Rycaut, trans. Gracian’s Critick, 227. Others have always retained some tainture and favour of their former condition.
1854. Fraser’s Mag., L. 667. Who Neerland’s blood feel nobly flow, From foreign tainture free.
II. † 3. Aphetic form of ATTAINTURE. Obs.
1621. G. Sandys, trans. Ovid’s Met., I. (1626), 20. Asham’d that such a tainture should be lay’d Vpon my blood, that could not be gayn-said.
