untainted

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   not contaminated, adulterated, or spoiled; pure

   Tests confirmed that the upstream water remained untainted by the chemical spill.

2. 2
   adj

   free from moral corruption, discredit, or an undesirable influence

   Her reputation emerged untainted from the investigation.

Formed from un- + tainted, the past participle of taint. Taint entered English through French words associated with dyeing and staining, so untainted developed both literal 'unstained' and figurative 'uncorrupted' senses.

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External links

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