attaint

UK: /əˈteɪnt/ US: (ə tānt′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

at•taint  (ə tānt′), v.t. 

1. Law to condemn by a sentence or a bill or act of attainder.
2. to disgrace.
3. [Archaic.] to accuse.
4. [Obs.] to prove the guilt of.

n. 

5. [Obs.] a stain;
   disgrace;
   taint.

• Anglo-French, Old French, past participle of ataindre to convict, attain
• Middle English ataynte, derivative of ataynt convicted 1250–1300

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

attaint / əˈteɪnt/ verb (transitive)

1. to pass judgment of death or outlawry upon (a person); condemn by bill of attainder
2. (of sickness) to affect or strike (somebody)

noun

1. a less common word for attainder

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French ateint convicted, from ateindre to attain