attaint

American  

[uh-teynt] / əˈteɪnt /

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.

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noun

1. Obsolete. a stain; disgrace; taint.

attaint British  

/ 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)

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noun

1. a less common word for attainder

2. a dishonour; taint

Other Word Forms

• unattainted adjective

Etymology

Origin of attaint

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

Example Sentences

With such janissaries and a penal code comprising everything in its elastic obscurity, there was no need for exceptional laws in order to attaint all Paris.

From History of the Commune of 1871 by Lissagary, P.

Now Parliament was called on by the king himself to attaint his ministers and his Queens.

From History of the English People, Volume IV by Green, John Richard

They were wholesomely housed in healthful places, and they were clad fitly for their labor and fitly for their leisure; the caprices of vanity were not suffered to attaint the beauty of the national dress.

From A Traveler from Altruria: Romance by Howells, William Dean

May He have mercy on him who saith: Look thou thy hoariness preserve from aught that may it stain,      For whiteness still to take attaint is passing quick and      fain.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Volume III by Payne, John

The chivalry of Austria will surely suffer no attaint from one whose distinction it is to be your relative, and a Dalton.

From The Daltons, Volume II (of II) Or,Three Roads In Life by Lever, Charles James