corruption of blood

American

noun

English Law.

the impurity before law that results from attainder and disqualifies the attainted person from inheriting, retaining, or bequeathing lands or interests in lands: abolished in 1870.

Etymology

Origin of corruption of blood

First recorded in 1555–65

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.

After Henry VIII's reign the law was modified so as not to work "corruption of blood" in the case of new felonies.

From The Leading Facts of English History by Montgomery, D. H. (David Henry)

No attainder shall work corruption of blood in any case.

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 1 by Randolph, Thomas Jefferson

Then followed those dreadful attendant penalties; confiscation of his estate and the terrible 'attainder and corruption of blood.'

From The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 4 by Various

"The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted."

From Reading Made Easy for Foreigners - Third Reader by Hülshof, John L.

"To declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attained."

From The Federalist Papers by Madison, James

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023