attaint Meaning, Definition & Usage

At*taint" transitive verb

Etymology

OE. atteynten to convict, fr. atteynt, OF. ateint, p. p. of ateindre, ataindre. The meanings 3, 4, 5, and 6 were influenced by a supposed connection with taint. See Attain, Attainder.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Attainted; present participle & verbal noun Attainting

Definitions

1. To attain; to get act; to hit. Obs.
2. (Old Law) To find guilty; to convict; -- said esp. of a jury on trial for giving a false verdict. Obs.

   Upon sufficient proof attainted of some open act by men of his own condition. Blackstone.

3. (Law) To subject (a person) to the legal condition formerly resulting from a sentence of death or outlawry, pronounced in respect of treason or felony; to affect by attainder.

   No person shall be attainted of high treason where corruption of blood is incurred, but by the oath of two witnesses. Stat. 7 & 8 Wm. III.

4. To accuse; to charge with a crime or a dishonorable act. Archaic
5. To affect or infect, as with physical or mental disease or with moral contagion; to taint or corrupt.

   My tender youth was never yet attaint With any passion of inflaming love. Shak.

6. To stain; to obscure; to sully; to disgrace; to cloud with infamy.

   For so exceeding shone his glistring ray, That Phbus' golden face it did attaint. Spenser.

   Lest she with blame her honor should attaint. Spenser.

At*taint" past participle

Definitions

1. Attainted; corrupted. Obs. Shak.

At*taint" noun

Etymology

OF. attainte. See Attaint, v.

Definitions

1. A touch or hit. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Far.) A blow or wound on the leg of a horse, made by overreaching. White.
3. (Law) A writ which lies after judgment, to inquire whether a jury has given a false verdict in any court of record; also, the convicting of the jury so tried. Bouvier.
4. A stain or taint; disgrace. See Taint. Shak.
5. An infecting influence. R. Shak.