I. ˈstān verb
Etymology: Middle English steynen, partly from Anglo-French desteindre to take away the color from & partly of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse steina to paint — more at distain
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to suffuse with color
2. : discolor , soil
3.
a. : taint 3
a conscience stain ed with guilt
b. : to bring discredit on
the scandal stain ed his reputation
4. : to color (as wood, glass, or cloth) by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itself
intransitive verb
: to receive a stain
• stain·able ˈstā-nə-bəl adjective
• stain·er ˈstā-nər noun
II. noun
Date: 1557
1.
a. : a soiled or discolored spot
b. : a natural spot of color contrasting with the ground
2. : a taint of guilt : stigma
3. : a preparation (as of dye or pigment) used in staining: as
a. : a dye or pigment capable of penetrating the pores of wood
b. : a dye or mixture of dyes used in microscopy to make visible minute and transparent structures, to differentiate tissue elements, or to produce specific chemical reactions
• stain·proof -ˌprüf adjective