Both Uses of
taint
in
Macbeth
- for even now
I put myself to thy direction, and
Unspeak mine own detraction; here abjure
The taints and blames I laid upon myself,
For strangers to my nature.†p. 147.6taints = spoils (so it is not as desirable)
- Bring me no more reports; let them fly all:
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane
I cannot taint with fear.†p. 169.2 *taint = to spoil something so it is not desirable
Definitions:
-
(1)
(taint) to spoil something so it is not desirable -- as when bacteria contaminates a food; or as when a rumor makes people distrust a person
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) Much more rarely, taint is used in a non-negative way to refer to a trace of something.