Hypertext Webster Gateway: "attainting"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Attaint \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. (Old Law) 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
Ph?bus' golden face it did attaint. --Spenser.

Lest she with blame her honor should attaint.
--Spenser.


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