Con*tam"i*nate
(k&obreve;n*tăm"&ibreve;*nāt), v.
t. [imp. & p. p. Contaminated
(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Contaminating (?).]
[L. contaminatus, p. p. of contaminare to bring
into contact, to contaminate, fr. contamen contagion, for
contagmen; con- + root of tangere to touch.
See Contact.] To soil, stain, or corrupt by contact;
to tarnish; to sully; to taint; to pollute; to defile.
Shall we now
Contaminate our figures with base bribes?
Shak.
I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor
virtue contaminated.
Goldsmith.
Syn. -- To pollute; defile; sully; taint; tarnish;
soil; stain; corrupt.
Con*tam"i*nate (-n&asl;t), a.
Contaminated; defiled; polluted; tainted.
"Contaminate drink." Daniel.
