CONTAMINATE, verb transitive [Latin , to defile.] To defile; to pollute; usually in a figurative sense; to sully; to tarnish; to taint. Lewdness contaminates character; cowardice contaminates honor. Shall we now contaminate our fingers with base bribes? CONTAMINATE, adjective Polluted; defiled; corrupt.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI