Main Entry:

¹stain

Pronunciation:

\ˈstān\

Function:

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 verb1: to suffuse with color2: discolor, soil3 a: taint 3 <a conscience stained with guilt> b: to bring discredit on <the scandal stained his reputation>4: to color (as wood, glass, or cloth) by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itselfintransitive verb: to receive a stain

— stain·able \ˈstā-nə-bəl\ adjective

— stain·er \ˈstā-nər\ noun