attaint
Americanverb (used with object)
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Law. to condemn by a sentence or a bill or act of attainder.
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to disgrace.
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Archaic. to accuse.
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Obsolete. to prove the guilt of.
noun
verb
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to pass judgment of death or outlawry upon (a person); condemn by bill of attainder
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to dishonour or disgrace
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to accuse or prove to be guilty
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(of sickness) to affect or strike (somebody)
noun
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a less common word for attainder
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a dishonour; taint
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of attaint
1250–1300; Middle English ataynte, derivative of ataynt convicted < Anglo-French, Old French, past participle of ataindre to convict, attain
Vocabulary lists containing attaint
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And the knight was inclined to attaint his lady for a certain cruelty in the matter; she was being something less than fair to the Unspeakable Perk.
From The Unspeakable Perk by Samuel Hopkins Adams
The defendant, when sued in England on a bill, pleaded the attaint of the plaintiff, who had received the pardon of Macquarie.
From The History of Tasmania , Volume II by John West
The tender of a ship or of a locomotive is the attender, and taint is aphetic for attaint, Fr. atteinte, touch— "I will not poison thee with my attaint."
From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Ernest Weekley
Ah lost am I, if thou, O Saint, Canst thus in thought my heart attaint: No warning charge from thee I need; Ne'er could such crime from me proceed.
From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin) Griffith
They paused facing each other, and examined eagerly into their respective means of defence before hazarding a blow, which, if it missed, its attaint would certainly be fatally requited.
From Waverley Novels — Volume 12 by Sir Walter Scott
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