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contaminate

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology 1

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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.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Audio (New Jersey):(file)

Verb

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contaminate (third-person singular simple present contaminates, present participle contaminating, simple past and past participle contaminated)

  1. (transitive) To make something dangerous or toxic by introducing impurities or foreign matter.
    This water is contaminated. It isn't safe to drink.
  2. (transitive) To soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association.
  3. (transitive) To make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements.
    Do not contaminate the peanut butter with the jelly.
  4. (transitive) To infect, usually of a deadly virus.
Derived terms
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Translations
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Etymology 2

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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.

Adjective

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contaminate (comparative more contaminate, superlative most contaminate) (obsolete)

  1. (used as a participle) Contaminated.
  2. (figuratively) Dirty, sinful, wicked, gross, etc.

Further reading

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Italian

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Verb

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contaminate

  1. inflection of contaminare:
    1. second-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person plural imperative
    3. feminine plural past participle

Anagrams

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Latin

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Verb

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contāmināte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of contāminō

Spanish

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Verb

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contaminate

  1. second-person singular voseo imperative of contaminar combined with te