contaminate
UK: kənˈtæmɪneɪt | US: kənˈtæməneɪt
vt. to make impure or harmful by adding undesirable substances
vt. to corrupt morally or spiritually
vt. to infect or taint (in a figurative sense)
contaminate = con<together> + tamin<touch> + ate<verb suffix>
- con<together>: Latin prefix meaning "with" or "thoroughly."
- tamin<touch>: From Latin taminare (to defile), derived from tamen (stain, pollution).
- ate<verb suffix>: Forms verbs indicating action or process.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin contaminare, combining con- (intensifying "thoroughly") and taminare (to pollute). Originally, it referred to physical pollution (e.g., soiled objects) but expanded to abstract corruption (morals, data) by the 16th century. The root tamin- evokes the idea of "staining through contact," reflecting its logic of spreading impurity.
The factory waste contaminated the river, killing aquatic life.
Fear of scandal contaminated his reputation.
Avoid using dirty tools to prevent contaminating the experiment.
The hacker contaminated the database with false information.
Ancient texts warn against letting greed contaminate the soul.