attaint
Strip civil rights
Attaint is a legal and historical term for the forfeiture of civil rights and property following a conviction for treason or felony.
A person under attainder was "attainted"—their blood corrupted, unable to inherit or pass on property.
The word also means to taint or corrupt generally: His honor was attainted by the scandal.
In older usage, attaint could mean to accuse or convict, or to touch or affect harmfully.
Loss of honor
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- dishonorLoss of respect
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
- stigmaMark of dishonor
ignominy · stain · blemish · discredit · reproach · opprobrium · disrepute · degradation
Firmly held belief
- forfeitureLoss due to breach
- treasonBetraying one's nation
- felonySerious criminal offense
- disinheritanceExclusion from inheritance
civil death · escheat · outlawry · judgment · sentence · condemnation · penalty · disqualification
disgrace
Loss of honor
stigma · ignominy · stain · blemish · discredit · reproach · opprobrium · disrepute · degradation · humiliation
conviction
Firmly held belief
- forfeitureLoss due to breach
- treasonBetraying one's nation
- felonySerious criminal offense
disinheritance · civil death · escheat · outlawry · judgment · sentence · condemnation · penalty · disqualification · deprivation
corrupt
Dishonest, open to bribes
- defileTo violate sanctity
- contaminateMake unclean or unsafe
- polluteMake impure harmfully
infect · vitiate · sully · spoil · foul · adulterate · impure · degrade · blight · mar
- joustingjoust, jousting, lance, tilt, tilting
- writscertiorari, mandamus, habeas corpus, prohibition, replevin
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming
- medieval documentscharter, royal charter, town charter, indenture, patent
attaintacquittal
Formal clearing of charges
exoneration · pardon · absolution · vindication · acquit