Attainting

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]