\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.

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

\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.