attaint

[uh-teynt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR attaint ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

Law. to condemn by a sentence or a bill or act of attainder.

to disgrace.

Archaic. to accuse.

Obsolete. to prove the guilt of.

noun

Obsolete. a stain; disgrace; taint.

Origin of attaint

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

Related formsun·at·taint·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for attaint

blot, disgrace, tarnish, spot, dishonor, taint, shame, blemish, humiliation, ignominy, stigma

Examples from the Web for attaint

Historical Examples of attaint

Hither he came, when attaint was lifted, late in those tottering years.
The Spell of Scotland
Keith Clark
It is proposed to attaint men for religion, and also for birth.
Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 5 (of 20)
Charles Sumner
Since all of the victims were dead, the attaint affected only their property.
Give Me Liberty
Thomas J. Wertenbaker
Attaint, a writ at common law against a jury for a false verdict, finally abolished in England in 1825.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3
Various
Now Parliament was called on by the king himself to attaint his ministers and his Queens.
History of the English People
John Richard Green

British Dictionary definitions for attaint

attaint

verb (tr) archaic

to pass judgment of death or outlawry upon (a person); condemn by bill of attainder

to dishonour or disgrace

to accuse or prove to be guilty

(of sickness) to affect or strike (somebody)

noun

a less common word for attainder

a dishonour; taint

Word Origin for attaint

C14: from Old French ateint convicted, from ateindre to attain

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012