attainder

American  

[uh-teyn-der] / əˈteɪn dər /

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.

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attainder British  

/ əˈteɪndə /

noun

1. (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

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Etymology

Origin of attainder

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

Example Sentences

In other words, she wants even companies that already have attained enormous market share to know that the government will be watching how they use that power.

From New York Times • Oct. 4, 2016

I was right in that the issue has, during this year, attained enormous importance and new recognition.

From Time Magazine Archive

The debt of the State, issued at a continually increasing discount, had already attained enormous proportions; the delirium of the last few years was ending, and sensible people began to be greatly disquieted.

From Abraham Lincoln: a History — Volume 01 by Nicolay, John George

Coincident with this development she has attained enormous popular esteem and internal power.

From The Teacher Essays and Addresses on Education by Palmer, Alice Freeman

Perhaps the world is so wholesome and so well balanced that nobody ever attained enormous prosperity without some excuse for it.

From In a Little Town by Hughes, Rupert