Attainture is a seldom used word that refers to the dishonor or disgrace brought upon someone by a conviction for a crime. Its spelling can be tricky to understand. The first syllable, "at," is pronounced with a short "a" sound, as in "cat." The second syllable, "tain," is pronounced with a long "a" sound, as in "rain." The last syllable, "ture," is pronounced with an "er" sound, as in "measure." The IPA phonetic transcription for attainture is /əˈteɪn.tʃər/
Attainture is a term that can be defined in various ways, depending on its specific context. It is often used in legal and historical contexts and its meaning can vary accordingly.
In a legal sense, attainture refers to a legal process or action that results in the tainting or invalidation of something. This can occur when a person is found guilty of a serious crime or felony, leading to the loss of certain rights and privileges. Attainture can also refer to the forfeiture or confiscation of property or assets as a result of criminal activity.
In a historical context, attainture can be associated with feudal practices. It refers to the disgrace or loss of social standing experienced by a noble or member of the aristocracy. This typically occurred when the individual engaged in treason, rebellion, or other acts deemed dishonorable by the ruling power. The attainture process often involved the confiscation of land, titles, and any other privileges enjoyed by the individual.
In a broader sense, attainture can denote a stain or tarnish on one's reputation or character. It implies a sense of contamination or corruption, resulting from immoral or dishonorable behavior. In this sense, attainture is often used metaphorically to describe a loss of integrity or a spoiled reputation.
Overall, attainture encompasses the idea of legal invalidation, social degradation, or tarnishing of one's reputation, depending on the context in which it is used.
The word attainture has its origins in Middle English, derived from the Anglo-French term ataindre which means to attain or to reach. The Anglo-French word itself is a combination of the Latin word attingere meaning to touch and the prefix ad- which signifies to or towards. Over time, in English, ataindre evolved into attainder and later attainture. Originally, attainture referred to the act of staining or tainting, but eventually came to be associated with a legal concept referring to a conviction for treason or felony, which resulted in the person losing their rights or being tainted.