attainder

[ uh-teyn-der ]

noun

1. the legal consequence of judgment of death or outlawry for treason or felony, involving the loss of all civil rights.
2. Obsolete. dishonor.

attainder

/ əˈteɪndə /

noun

1. See bill of attainder
   (formerly) the extinction of a person's civil rights resulting from a sentence of death or outlawry on conviction for treason or felony See also bill of attainder
2. obsolete.
   dishonour

Word History and Origins

Origin of attainder¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English attaynder, atteindor, noun use of Old French ataindre, ateindre “to attain, touch (upon), affect, convict”; attain

Word History and Origins

Origin of attainder¹

C15: from Anglo-French attaindre to convict, from Old French ateindre to attain

Example Sentences

That, courts have agreed, is very British in its bill of attainder origins.

From Time

That gentleman had been permitted to pass an act of attainder, which had lain unnoticed on the table for six weeks.

From Project Gutenberg

His attainder, and that of his family, together with the forfeiture of his lands, was then pronounced.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1759 his attainder was reversed, but he continued to live abroad.

From Project Gutenberg

The charge of high treason could not be legally established, and a bill of attainder was passed against him in 1645.

From Project Gutenberg

Dare you put eight and twenty millions of men into your bill of attainder?

From Project Gutenberg