Taint. This and ‘tint’ or ‘teint,’ the one connected more closely with the French, the other with the Italian form of the word, have divided off from one another, but own a common origin—‘tingo,’ ‘tinctus.’ The fact that discoloration commonly accompanies decay explains our present use of ‘taint.’
A most delicate and beautiful young lady, slender of body, tall of stature, fair of taynt and complexion.—Reynolds, God’s Revenge against Murther, b. i. hist. 1.
But in the court be quainter dames than she,
Whose faces are enrich’d with honour’s taint.
Greene, Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, sc. 1.
And Nero will be tainted with remorse.
Shakespeare, 3 Henry VI., act iii. sc. 1.
Talent. The original meaning, as of ‘talent’ in Old French, ‘talento’ in Italian, ‘talante’ in Spanish, was will, inclination, from ‘talentum’ (τάλαντον), balance, scales, and then inclination of balance; thus in Spenser (Fairy Queen, iii. 4, 61), ‘maltalent’ is grudge or ill-will (compare Old French ‘maltalant’ in the Chanson de Roland, 271). It is probably under the influence of the Parable of the Talents (Matt. xxv.) that it has travelled to its present meaning. Clarendon still employs it very distinctly in its older sense.
Whoso then wold wel understonde these peines, and bethinke him wel that he hath deserved these peines for his sinnes, certes he shold have more talent for to sighe and to wepe than for to singe and playe.—Chaucer, The Persones Tale.
The meaner sort rested not there, but creating for their leader Sir John Egremond, a factious person and one who had of a long time borne an ill talent towards the king, entered into open rebellion.—Bacon, History of King Henry VII.