attaint

at·taint

 (ə-tānt′)

tr.v. at·taint·ed, at·taint·ing, at·taints

1. To impart a stigma to; disgrace: "No breath of calumny ever attainted the personal purity of Savonarola" (Henry Hart Milman).

2. To pass a sentence of attainder against.

3. Archaic To infect or corrupt, as with illness or vice.

4. Archaic To accuse.

n.

1. A disgrace; a stigma.

2. Obsolete Attainder.

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[Middle English attainten, from Old French ataint, past participle of ataindre, to affect; see attain.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

attaint

(əˈteɪnt)

vb (tr)

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

2. to dishonour or disgrace

3. to accuse or prove to be guilty

4. (of sickness) to affect or strike (somebody)

n

5. (Law) a less common word for attainder

6. a dishonour; taint

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

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

at•taint

(əˈteɪnt)

v.t.

1. to punish with attainder.

2. to disgrace.

3. Archaic. to accuse.

4. Obs. to prove the guilt of.

n.

5. Obs. a stain; disgrace; taint.

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

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

attaint

Past participle: attainted
Gerund: attainting

Imperative

attaint

attaint

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	attaint - bring shame or dishonor upon; "he dishonored his family by committing a serious crime" disgrace, dishonor, dishonour, shame befoul, maculate, defile, foul - spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it"
	2.	attaint - condemn by attainder; "the man was attainted" condemn - demonstrate the guilt of (someone); "Her strange behavior condemned her"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

attaint

noun

Archaic. A mark of discredit or disgrace:

black eye, blemish, blot, onus, spot, stain, stigma, taint, tarnish.

Idiom: a blot on one's escutcheon.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.