Attaint

Attaint
Attaint At*taint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Attainted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Attainting}.] [OE. atteynten to convict, fr. atteynt, OF. ateint, p. p. of ateindre, ataindre. The meanings 3, 4, 5, and 6 were influenced by a supposed connection with taint. See {Attain}, {Attainder}.] 1. To attain; to get act; to hit. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

2. (Old Law) To find guilty; to convict; -- said esp. of a jury on trial for giving a false verdict. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Upon sufficient proof attainted of some open act by men of his own condition. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]

3. (Law) To subject (a person) to the legal condition formerly resulting from a sentence of death or outlawry, pronounced in respect of treason or felony; to affect by attainder. [1913 Webster]

No person shall be attainted of high treason where corruption of blood is incurred, but by the oath of two witnesses. --Stat. 7 & 8 Wm. III. [1913 Webster]

4. To accuse; to charge with a crime or a dishonorable act. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]

5. To affect or infect, as with physical or mental disease or with moral contagion; to taint or corrupt. [1913 Webster]

My tender youth was never yet attaint With any passion of inflaming love. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. To stain; to obscure; to sully; to disgrace; to cloud with infamy. [1913 Webster]

For so exceeding shone his glistring ray, That Ph?bus' golden face it did attaint. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Lest she with blame her honor should attaint. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • attaint — at·taint /ə tānt/ vt [Anglo French ateint, past participle of ateindre see attainder]: to subject (a person) to the consequences of attainder Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • Attaint — At*taint , n. [OF. attainte. See {Attaint}, v.] 1. A touch or hit. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] 2. (Far.) A blow or wound on the leg of a horse, made by overreaching. White. [1913 Webster] 3. (Law) A writ which lies after judgment, to inquire… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Attaint — At*taint , p. p. Attainted; corrupted. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • attaint — vb taint, pollute, defile, *contaminate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • attaint — [ə tānt′] vt. attainted, attainting [ME atteinten, to convict < OFr ateint, pp. of ataindre (see ATTAIN); sense infl. by Anglo Fr teinte, TAINT] 1. to punish by attainder 2. Archaic to disgrace or dishonor 3. Archaic to infect …   English World dictionary

  • attaint — 1. verb a) To subject to attainder; to condemn (someone) to death and extinction of all civil rights. Amoret right fearefull was and faint, / Lest she with blame her honor should attaint [...]. b) To subject to calumny; to accuse …   Wiktionary

  • Attaint — 1) The word was used of a nobleman convicted of an act seriously dishonourable, such as *treason. The punishment was usually death and the forfeiture of all lands and estates, leaving descendants without inheritance. Cf. previous 2) [atteint]. A… …   Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases

  • attaint — verb 1》 historical subject to attainder. 2》 archaic (of a disease) affect or infect. Origin ME (in the sense touch, attain ): from obs. attaint (adjective), from OFr. ataint, ateint, past participle of ateindre (see attain) …   English new terms dictionary

  • attaint — v.tr. 1 hist. subject to attainder. 2 a (of disease etc.) strike, affect. b taint. Etymology: ME f. obs. attaint (adj.) f. OF ataint, ateint past part. formed as ATTAIN: confused in meaning with TAINT …   Useful english dictionary

  • attaint — I. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English attaynten, from Anglo French ateint, past participle of ateindre Date: 14th century 1. to affect by attainder 2. a. infect, corrupt b. archaic taint, sully …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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