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.
2. (Old Law) To find guilty; to convict; — said esp. of a jury on trial for giving a false verdict.
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.
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.