diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroDef.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroDef.java
index 237bc2811..5d9e81808 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroDef.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroDef.java
@@ -265,41 +265,12 @@ public class MacroDef extends AntlibDefinition  {
                 throw new BuildException(
                     "the name \"" + attribute.getName()
                         + "\" has already been used in "
-                        + (att instanceof DefineAttribute ? "a define element"
-                           : "another attribute element"));
+                        + "another attribute element");
             }
         }
         attributes.add(attribute);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Add a define element.
-     *
-     * @param def a define nested element.
-     */
-    public void addConfiguredDefine(DefineAttribute def) {
-        if (def.getName() == null) {
-            throw new BuildException(
-                "the define nested element needed a \"name\" attribute");
-        }
-        if (def.getName().equals(textName)) {
-            throw new BuildException(
-                "the name \"" + def.getName()
-                + "\" has already been used by the text element");
-        }
-        for (int i = 0; i < attributes.size(); ++i) {
-            Attribute att = (Attribute) attributes.get(i);
-            if (att.getName().equals(def.getName())) {
-                throw new BuildException(
-                    "the name \"" + def.getName()
-                    + "\" has already been used in "
-                    + (att instanceof DefineAttribute ? "another define element"
-                       : "an attribute element"));
-            }
-        }
-        attributes.add(def);
-    }
-
     /**
      * Add an element element.
      *
@@ -541,63 +512,6 @@ public class MacroDef extends AntlibDefinition  {
         }
     }
 
-    /**
-     * A nested define element for the MacroDef task.
-     *
-     * It provides an attribute with a guaranteed unique value
-     * on every instantiation of the macro. This allows to use
-     * this uniquely named attribute in property names used
-     * internally by the macro, thus creating unique property
-     * names and side-stepping Ant's property immutability rules.
-     * <p>
-     * Of course, this work around as the side effect of littering
-     * the global Ant property namespace, so is far for ideal, but
-     * will have to make do awaiting a better fix...
-     *
-     * @since ant 1.7
-     */
-    public static class DefineAttribute extends Attribute {
-
-        private static long count = 0;
-        private String prefix = "";
-
-        /**
-         * Sets a prefix for the generated name.
-         *
-         * @param prefixValue the prefix to use.
-         */
-        public void setPrefix(String prefixValue) {
-            prefix = prefixValue;
-        }
-
-        /**
-         * Sets the default value.
-         *
-         * This is not allowed for the define nested element.
-         *
-         * @param defaultValue not used
-         * @throws BuildException always
-         */
-        public void setDefault(String defaultValue) {
-            throw new BuildException(
-                "Illegal attribute \"default\" for define element");
-        }
-
-        /**
-         * Gets the default value for this attibute.
-         *
-         * @return the generated <em>unique</em> name, of the form
-         *         "prefix#this classname#&lt;aCounter&gt;".
-         */
-        public String getDefault() {
-            synchronized (DefineAttribute.class) {
-                // Make sure counter is managed globally
-                return prefix + "#" + getClass().getName() + "#" + (++count);
-            }
-        }
-
-    }
-
     /**
      * A nested text element for the MacroDef task.
      * @since ant 1.6.1
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroInstance.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroInstance.java
index 2199658cb..63f8d2215 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroInstance.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroInstance.java
@@ -348,9 +348,6 @@ public class MacroInstance extends Task implements DynamicAttribute, TaskContain
             if (value == null) {
                 value = attribute.getDefault();
                 value = macroSubs(value, localAttributes);
-            } else if (attribute instanceof MacroDef.DefineAttribute) {
-                // Do not process given value, will fail as unknown attribute
-                continue;
             }
             if (value == null) {
                 throw new BuildException(