attainder

English

Alternative forms

• attaindre (obsolete, rare)

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Anglo-Norman ataindre, with infinitive used as noun frequent in Law French.

Noun

attainder (plural attainders)

1. (law, rare) The state a prisoner enters once a death sentence (usually for treason) had been issued; the state of being stripped of all civil rights.
2. (obsolete) A stain; a state of dishonour or condemnation.
   • 1593, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Richard the Third, III. v. 32:

     He lived from all attainder of suspects.

Related terms

• attaint
• bill of attainder

Translations

the state of a prisoner after a death sentence

• Spanish: muerte civil, deshonra (obsolete)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Anagrams

• antitrade, attaindre