1. [v]  condemn by attainder
2. [v]  bring dishonor upon

ATTAINT is a 7 letter word that starts with A.

1. \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.
   

2. \At*taint"\, p. p.
   Attainted; corrupted. [Obs.] --Shak.
   

3. \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.