What is "attainting"

Attaint \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.

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.

vb. (present participle of attaint English)