Bill of Attainder
Preserved but no longer current.
A legislative Act, introduced and passed exactly like any other Bill, declaring a person or pers9ns attainted. It was originally used only against offenders who fled from justice, but was soon perverted to the destruction of political opponents, etc. The last Bill of Attainder m England was that passed in 1697 for the attainting and execution of Sir John Fenwick for participation in the Assassination plot.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Bill of Attainder” mean?
A legislative Act, introduced and passed exactly like any other Bill, declaring a person or pers9ns attainted. It was originally used only against offenders who fled from justice, but was soon perverted to the destruction of political opponents, etc. The last Bill of Attainder m England was that passed in 1697 for the attainting and execution of Sir John Fenwick for participation in the Assassination plot.
Is “Bill of Attainder” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.