Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for CON-TAM'I-NATE
CON-TAM'I-NATECON-TAM'I-NA-TED
CON-TAM'I-NATE, v.t. [L. contamino; con and ant. tamino. Qu. Heb. Ch. Syr. טמא, to defile. Class Dm, No. 19.]
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? – Shak.
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