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Contaminate

//kənˈtæmɪneɪt// adj, verb

Definitions

Adjective

1
Contaminated. obsolete
"And that this body conſecrate to thee, By Ruffian Luſt ſhould be contaminate!"
2
Dirty, sinful, wicked, gross, etc. figuratively, obsolete

Verb

1
To make something dangerous or toxic by introducing impurities or foreign matter. transitive
"This water is contaminated. It isn't safe to drink."
2
make impure wordnet
3
To soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association. transitive
"Shall we now Contaminate our figures with base bribes?"
4
make radioactive by adding radioactive material wordnet
5
To make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements. transitive
"Do not contaminate the peanut butter with the jelly."

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6
To infect, usually of a deadly virus. transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English contaminaten (“to defile; to infect with desease”), from contaminat(e) (“sullied, defiled; infected with desease”, also used as the past participle of contaminaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin contāminātus, the perfect passive participle of contāminō (“to touch together, blend, mingle, corrupt, defile”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), which see for further informations. More at taste, tax, and taxi.

Etymology 2

First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English contaminat(e) (“sullied, defiled; infected with desease”, also used as the past participle of contaminaten), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Participial usage up until Early Modern English.

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