Attaint
adj, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 A blow or strike, especially in jousting. archaic
"This politic selection did not alter the fortune of the field, the challengers were still successful: one of their antagonists was overthrown, and both the others failed in the “attaint”, that is, in striking the helmet and shield of their antagonist firmly and strongly, with the lance held in a direct line, so that the weapon might break unless the champion was overthrown."
- 2 A wound on the leg of a horse caused by a blow.
- 3 The giving of a false verdict by a jury; the conviction of such a jury, and the reversal of the verdict. obsolete
- 1 To subject to attainder; to condemn (someone) to death and extinction of all civil rights. archaic
"Tom Truth is attainted. All he has — not much — is forfeit to the king, and he is entitled to nothing but a traitorʼs death."
- 2 condemn by attainder wordnet
- 3 To subject to calumny; to accuse of a crime or dishonour. archaic
"CHARLES STUART. Attainted and proscribed by name and grade in his British regiment."
- 4 bring shame or dishonor upon wordnet
- 5 To taint; to corrupt, sully. archaic
"Amoret right fearefull was and faint, / Lest she with blame her honor should attaint […]."
- 1 Convicted, attainted. obsolete
- 2 Attainted; corrupted. obsolete
"My tender youth was never yet attaint With any passion of inflaming love,"
Example
More examples"My tender youth was never yet attaint With any passion of inflaming love,"
Etymology
From Middle English atteinte, from Old French ateint, past participle of ateindre; in some senses influenced by taint.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.