| attaint | 1. To attain; to get act; to hit. 2. To find guilty; to convict; said especially. Of a jury on trial for giving a false verdict. "Upon sufficient proof attainted of some open act by men of his own condition." (Blackstone) 3. 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. 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) Origin: 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. 1. A touch or hit. 2. <veterinary> A blow or wound on the leg of a horse, made by overreaching. 3. 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. 4. A stain or taint; disgrace. See Taint. 5. An infecting influence. Origin: OF. Attainte. See Attaint, v. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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