attainder

at·tain·der   (ə-tān'dər)    n.   In the ancient common law, the state of an offender who had been sentenced for a capital offense. Obsolete Dishonor. [Middle English atteindre, act of attainting, from Old French ataindre, to convict, affect, attainder; see attain.]

attainder 

Main Entry: at·tain·der
Pronunciation: &-'tAn-d&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French atteinder, from ateindre to convict, sentence, literally, to reach, attain, ultimately from Latin attingere to reach, from ad to + tangere to touch
: the termination of the civil rights of a person upon a sentence of death or outlawry for treason or a felony —see also bill of attainder at BILL 1, CORRUPTION OF BLOOD
NOTE: In English law up to the nineteenth century, attainder was the harsh consequence of conviction for treason or a felony. It resulted in the forfeiture of the convicted person's property. It also involved corruption of blood, which barred the person from inheriting, retaining, or passing title, rank, or property. A person outlawed lost the right to seek protection under the law. Article III, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution prohibits corruption of blood or forfeiture upon a conviction for treason “except during the life of the person attainted,” and Article I, Section 9 prohibits bills of attainder. Attainder was abolished in England in 1870.