Attaint - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Attaint is a legal term meaning to disgrace or dishonor someone, often through conviction of a crime, resulting in loss of civil rights or social standing. It can also refer to tarnishing one’s reputation.
Definition:
To disgrace or dishonor someone, often through legal condemnation or public shame.
Synonyms:
stain, tarnish, disgrace, dishonor
Part of Speech:
verb, noun
Antonyms:
honor, praise
Common Collocations:
legal attaint, public attaint, family attaint
Derivatives:
attainting, attainted
Usage Tips:
Use "attaint" in legal or historical contexts to describe formal disgrace or loss of rights.
Common Phrases:
under attaint of treason, blood attaint
Etymology:
From Old French "ateint," past participle of "ateindre," meaning to convict or condemn.
Examples:
- 1. The court voted to attaint the nobleman for treason.
- 2. His reputation was attainted after the scandal became public.
- 3. The law no longer allows attainder to attaint a criminal's family.
- 4. She feared the accusation would attaint her good name forever.