attainder
/ətˈeɪndɚ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.16 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The state a prisoner entered once a death sentence (usually for treason) had been issued; the state of being stripped of all civil rights.
Example Sentences
- "Grandpa Piper led thereto by the arm […] and himself thrust into a chair, to support the character of dummy to Henry's prearranged attainder."
- "He lived from all attainder of suspects."
- "Some of the horses were registered under phony papers, their sires having been ruled off the track as doped or doctored. The hereditary attainder rule was very strict."
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman ataindre ("to reach"), with infinitives used as nouns being frequent in Law French. Doublet of attain and attinge.