Obs. Forms: 4–5 entech, -tecch, -tetch, 5 entatch, (entachch), 5–6 entach. [a. OF. entachier, entechier, to imbue with any quality, infect (cf. mod.F. enticher to infect), f. en- (see EN-1) + tache, teche, spot, mark, contagion, ‘trait’ of character, etc.; perh. ultimately identical with tache, *tac TACK: see ATTACH.]
1. trans. To stain, defile; to infect.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. iii. 120. Who so þat euer is entecched and defouled wiþ yuel.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, I. 259. Non Of hem Entachched was with non Maner Synne.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., III. x. 156. Alle we abyde entetched and soylled therby [by Adam’s sin]. Ibid. (1483), G. de la Tour, D iij. And of this manere the moost parte of the world is entatched and ouercome.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas. (1845), 137. With fervent love and fyry lemes entached.
2. To imbue with any quality, good or evil. See ENTECHED ppl. a.
3. ? To link together. [? var. ATTACH] rare–1.
c. 1450. Merlin, xviii. 288. Thei were so thikke and so entacched ech amonge other, that mo than a thousand fill in to the river.
Hence Enteched ppl. a., imbued with certain qualities or dispositions; only with qualifying advbs. [So OFr. bien, mal entechié.]
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 832. On of the best enteched creature, That is or shal, while that the world may dure.
c. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 150. A croked hors never the better is entecchede, Althoughe his bridelle glistre of golde and shyne.
