WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : At*taint"
Part of Speech : v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attainting.]
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.]
Definition : 1. To attain; to get act; to hit. [Obs.]

2. (Old Law)

Defn: 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)

Defn: 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 Phattaint. Spenser. Lest she with blame her honor should attaint. Spenser.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : At*taint"
Part of Speech : p. p.
Definition : Defn: Attainted; corrupted. [Obs.] Shak.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : At*taint"
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OF. attainte. See Attaint, v.]
Definition : 1. A touch or hit. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Far.)

Defn: A blow or wound on the leg of a horse, made by overreaching. White.

3. (Law)

Defn: 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.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913