At*taint" (#), 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.]
1.
To attain; to get act; to hit.
[Obs.]
2. OldLaw
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
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 Phbus' golden face it did attaint.
Spenser.
Lest she with blame her honor should attaint.
Spenser.
© Webster 1913.
At*taint", p. p.
Attainted; corrupted.
[Obs.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
At*taint", n. [OF. attainte. See Attaint, v.]
1.
A touch or hit.
Sir W. Scott.
2. Far.
A blow or wound on the leg of a horse, made by overreaching.
White.
3. 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.
4.
A stain or taint; disgrace. See Taint.
Shak.
5.
An infecting influence.
[R.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913.