GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Attaint , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attainting.] [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.]
   To attain; to get act; to hit. [Obs.]
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   (Old Law) To find guilty; to convict; -- said esp. of a jury on trial for giving a false verdict. [Obs.]
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   Upon sufficient proof attainted of some open act by men of his own condition.
   Blackstone.
   
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   (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.
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   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.
   
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   To accuse; to charge with a crime or a dishonorable act. [Archaic]
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   To affect or infect, as with physical or mental disease or with moral contagion; to taint or corrupt.
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   My tender youth was never yet attaint
   With any passion of inflaming love.
   Shak.
   
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   To stain; to obscure; to sully; to disgrace; to cloud with infamy.
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   For so exceeding shone his glistring ray,
   That Phœbus' golden face it did attaint.
   Spenser.
   
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   Lest she with blame her honor should attaint.
   Spenser.
   
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2.       
   Attaint, p. p. Attainted; corrupted. [Obs.]
   Shak.
   
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3.       
   Attaint, n. [OF. attainte. See Attaint, v.]
   A touch or hit.
   Sir W. Scott.
   
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   (Far.) A blow or wound on the leg of a horse, made by overreaching.
   White.
   
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   (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.
   
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   A stain or taint; disgrace. See Taint.
   Shak.
   
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   An infecting influence. [R.]
   Shak.
   
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