Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913
Contaminate
Con·tam′i·nate (kŏn·tăm′ĭ·nāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contaminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Contaminating.] [L. contaminatus, p. p. of contaminare to bring into contact, to contaminate, fr. contamen contagion, for contagmen; con- + root of tangere to touch. See Contact.] To soil, stain, or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to sully; to taint; to pollute; to defile.
Shall we now Contaminate our figures with base bribes? Shak.
I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated. Goldsmith.
Syn. — To pollute; defile; sully; taint; tarnish; soil; stain; corrupt.
Con·tam′i·nate (-nāt), a. Contaminated; defiled; polluted; tainted. "Contaminate drink." Daniel.