verb
- present participle of attaint; corrupting or staining someone’s reputation or honor
Usage: archaic; legal
Examples
- The scandal was attainting his previously spotless reputation.
- Medieval laws included provisions for attainting nobles who committed treason.
- The court considered whether the evidence was attainting the defendant’s character.
- Historical records show the practice of attainting entire family lines for political crimes.
- The accusation had the effect of attainting his good name in the community.