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taint vi., be infected. The Shakespearean scholar looked in the refrigerator and exclaimed, “My goodness! Mold taints this cheese!”

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a • gue n., fever and chills. Lord Byron complained of catching the ague after taking a long swim.

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har • bin • ger n., person or thing that comes before and hints at what is to follow. The robin is often described as the harbinger of spring.

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u • surp • er n., one who assumes power without right. After the election was shown to be illegal, the candidate who had originally lost the race took office, and the usurper went to jail.