attaint

[ uh-teynt ]

verb (used with object)

1. Law. to condemn by a sentence or a bill or act of attainder.
2. to disgrace.
3. Archaic. to accuse.
4. Obsolete. to prove the guilt of.

noun

1. Obsolete. a stain; disgrace; taint.

attaint

/ əˈteɪnt /

verb

1. to pass judgment of death or outlawry upon (a person); condemn by bill of attainder
2. to dishonour or disgrace
3. to accuse or prove to be guilty
4. (of sickness) to affect or strike (somebody)

noun

1. a less common word for attainder
2. a dishonour; taint

Other Words From

• unat·tainted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attaint¹

1250–1300; Middle English ataynte, derivative of ataynt convicted < Anglo-French, Old French, past participle of ataindre to convict, attain

Word History and Origins

Origin of attaint¹

C14: from Old French ateint convicted, from ateindre to attain

Example Sentences

“The Congress shall have the Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.”

From Salon

Married heterosexual couples in which the wife attainted a higher level of education than her husband are no longer at an increased risk of divorce, despite previous research suggesting as much.

From Newsweek

And the Devil's Parliament of 1459 attainted the Duke of York and his son, the future Edward IV for treason, during the Wars of the Roses.

From BBC

A petition is to go to the Queen asking that families attainted after the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite followers in 1746 be absolved.

From BBC

Humanity is shocked that a woman was attainted of treason, for no crime but that of clinging to the fortunes of the husband whom she had vowed on the altar never to desert.

From Project Gutenberg