Word Study
stain
CIDE DICTIONARY
stain, v. t. [Abbrev. fr. distain.].
- To discolor by the application of foreign matter; to make foul; to spot; as, to stain the hand with dye; armor stained with blood. [1913 Webster]
- To color, as wood, glass, paper, cloth, or the like, by processes affecting, chemically or otherwise, the material itself; to tinge with a color or colors combining with, or penetrating, the substance; to dye; as, to stain wood with acids, colored washes, paint rubbed in, etc.; to stain glass. [1913 Webster]
- To spot with guilt or infamy; to bring reproach on; to blot; to soil; to tarnish. [1913 Webster]"Of honor void,
Of innocence, of faith, of purity,
Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained." [1913 Webster] - To cause to seem inferior or soiled by comparison. [1913 Webster]"She stains the ripest virgins of her age." [1913 Webster]"That did all other beasts in beauty stain." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- To paint; dye; blot; soil; sully; discolor; disgrace; taint.
stain, v. i.
To give or receive a stain; to grow dim. [1913 Webster]
stain, n.
- A discoloration by foreign matter; a spot; as, a stain on a garment or cloth. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- A natural spot of a color different from the gound. [1913 Webster]"Swift trouts, diversified with crimson stains." [1913 Webster]
- Taint of guilt; tarnish; disgrace; reproach. [1913 Webster]"Nor death itself can wholly wash their stains." [1913 Webster]"Our opinion . . . is, I trust, without any blemish or stain of heresy." [1913 Webster]
- Cause of reproach; shame. Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]
- A tincture; a tinge. [1913 Webster]"You have some stain of soldier in you." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- Blot; spot; taint; pollution; blemish; tarnish; color; disgrace; infamy; shame.
OXFORD DICTIONARY
stain, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. & intr. discolour or be discoloured by the action of liquid sinking in.
2 tr. sully, blemish, spoil, damage (a reputation, character, etc.).
3 tr. colour (wood, glass, etc.) by a process other than painting or covering the surface.
4 tr. impregnate (a specimen) for microscopic examination with colouring matter that makes the structure visible by being deposited in some parts more than in others.
5 tr. print colours on (wallpaper).
--n.
1 a discoloration, a spot or mark caused esp. by contact with foreign matter and not easily removed (a cloth covered with tea-stains).
2 a a blot or blemish. b damage to a reputation etc. (a stain on one's character).
3 a substance used in staining.
--v.
1 tr. & intr. discolour or be discoloured by the action of liquid sinking in.
2 tr. sully, blemish, spoil, damage (a reputation, character, etc.).
3 tr. colour (wood, glass, etc.) by a process other than painting or covering the surface.
4 tr. impregnate (a specimen) for microscopic examination with colouring matter that makes the structure visible by being deposited in some parts more than in others.
5 tr. print colours on (wallpaper).
--n.
1 a discoloration, a spot or mark caused esp. by contact with foreign matter and not easily removed (a cloth covered with tea-stains).
2 a a blot or blemish. b damage to a reputation etc. (a stain on one's character).
3 a substance used in staining.
Idiom
stained glass dyed or coloured glass, esp. in a lead framework in a window (also (with hyphen) attrib.: stained-glass window).
Derivative
stainable adj. stainer n.
Etymology
ME f. distain f. OF desteindre desteign- (as DIS-, TINGE)
THESAURUS
stain
apply paint, aspersion, attaint, badge of infamy, bar sinister, bastardize, baton, bedaub, bedizen, begild, bend sinister, besmear, besmirch, besmoke, besmutch, besoil, bespatter, bestain, birthmark, black, black eye, black mark, blacken, blaze, blaze a trail, blemish, bloodstain, blot, blotch, blow upon, blur, brand, broad arrow, brush on paint, brutalize, calcimine, caste mark, censure, chalk, chalk up, champain, check, check off, checkmark, chromogen, cicatrix, cicatrize, coat, coat of paint, coating, color, color filter, color gelatin, colorant, coloring, complexion, contaminate, corrupt, cover, cut, dab, dapple, darken, dash, daub, dead-color, debauch, deep-dye, defame, defect, defile, define, delimit, demarcate, demoralize, deprave, dip, dirty, disapprove, discolor, discoloration, disgrace, disparage, disparagement, distemper, dot, double-dye, drier, dye, dyestuff, earmark, emblazon, enamel, engild, engrave, engraving, expose, expose to infamy, exterior paint, eyesore, face, fast-dye, flat coat, flat wash, flaw, fleck, flick, floor enamel, flyspeck, freckle, fresco, gash, gibbet, gild, glaze, gloss, grain, graving, ground, hack, hang in effigy, hatch, hue, illuminate, imbue, impress, imprint, imputation, ingrain, interior paint, japan, jot, lacquer, lay on color, lentigo, line, macula, maculation, macule, make a mark, mark, mark of Cain, mark off, mark out, marking, medium, mole, mottle, nevus, nick, notch, odium, onus, opaque color, paint, parget, patch, pencil, pepper, pervert, pigment, pillory, pillorying, point, point champain, polka dot, prick, prime, prime coat, primer, priming, print, punch, punctuate, puncture, reflection, reprimand, reproach, riddle, ruin, scar, scarification, scarify, scorch, score, scotch, scratch, scratching, seal, seam, sear, shade, shadow, shame, shellac, singe, slop on paint, slubber, slur, smear, smirch, smoke, smouch, smudge, smut, smutch, soil, soilage, soilure, spatter, speck, speckle, splash, splatter, splotch, spoil, spot, stamp, stigma, stigmatism, stigmatization, stigmatize, stipple, strawberry mark, streak, striate, stripe, sully, taint, tar, tarnish, tattoo, tattoo mark, tempera, thinner, tick, tick off, tinct, tinction, tincture, tinge, tint, tittle, tone, trace, transparent color, turpentine, turps, undercoat, undercoating, underline, underscore, varnish, vehicle, vilify, wash, wash coat, watermark, whitewashROGET THESAURUS
stain
Uncleanness
VB be unclean, become unclean, rot, putrefy, ferment, fester, rankle, reek, stink, mold, molder, go bad, render unclean, dirt, dirty, daub, blot, blur, smudge, smutch, soil, smoke, tarnish, slaver, spot, smear, smirch, begrease, dabble, drabble, draggle, daggle, spatter, slubber, besmear, bemire, beslime, begrime, befoul, splash, stain, distain, maculate, sully, pollute, defile, debase, contaminate, taint, leaven, corrupt, cover with dust, drabble in the mud, roil, wallow in the mire, slobber, slabber.Deterioration
VB be worse, be deteriorated, become worse, become deteriorated Adj, have seen better days, deteriorate, degenerate, fall off, wane, ebb, retrograde, decline, droop, go down, go downhill, go from bad to worse, go farther and fare worse, jump out of the frying pan into the fire, run to seed, go to seed, run to waste swale, sweal, lapse, be the worse for, sphacelate: break, break down, spring a leak, crack, start, shrivel, fade, go off, wither, molder, rot, rankle, decay, go bad, go to decay, fall into decay, fall into the sear and yellow leaf, rust, crumble, shake, totter, totter to its fall, perish, die, deteriorate, weaken, put back, set back, taint, infect, contaminate, poison, empoison, envenom, canker, corrupt, exulcerate, pollute, vitiate, inquinate, debase, embase, denaturalize, denature, leaven, deflower, debauch, defile, deprave, degrade, ulcerate, stain, discolor, alloy, adulterate, sophisticate, tamper with, prejudice, pervert, prostitute, demoralize, brutalize, render vicious, embitter, acerbate, exacerbate, aggravate, injure, impair, labefy, damage, harm, hurt, shend, scath, scathe, spoil, mar, despoil, dilapidate, waste, overrun, ravage, pillage, wound, stab, pierce, maim, lame, surbate, cripple, hough, hamstring, hit between wind and water, scotch, mangle, mutilate, disfigure, blemish, deface, warp, blight, rot, corrode, erode, wear away, wear out, gnaw, gnaw at the root of, sap, mine, undermine, shake, sap the foundations of, break up, disorganize, dismantle, dismast, destroy, damnify, do one's worst, knock down, deal a blow to, play havoc with, play sad havoc with, play the mischief with, play the deuce with, play the very devil with, play havoc among, play sad havoc among, play the mischief among, play the deuce among, play the very devil among, decimate.N deterioration, debasement, wane, ebb, recession, retrogradation, decrease, degeneracy, degeneration, degenerateness, degradation, depravation, depravement, devolution, depravity, demoralization, retrogression, masochism, impairment, inquination, injury, damage, loss, detriment, delaceration, outrage, havoc, inroad, ravage, scath, perversion, prostitution, vitiation, discoloration, oxidation, pollution, defoedation, poisoning, venenation, leaven, contamination, canker, corruption, adulteration, alloy, decline, declension, declination, decadence, decadency, falling off, caducity, decrepitude, decay, dilapidation, ravages of time, wear and tear, corrosion, erosion, moldiness, rottenness, moth and rust, dry rot, blight, marasmus, atrophy, collapse, disorganization, delabrement (destruction), aphid, Aphis, plant louse, puceron, vinefretter, vinegrub, wreck, mere wreck, honeycomb, magni nominis umbra, jade, plug, rackabones, skate, tackey, tacky, have seen better days, deteriorate, degenerate, fall off, wane, ebb, retrograde, decline, droop, go down, go downhill, go from bad to worse, go farther and fare worse, jump out of the frying pan into the fire, run to seed, go to seed, run to waste swale, sweal, lapse, be the worse for, sphacelate: break, break down, spring a leak, crack, start, shrivel, fade, go off, wither, molder, rot, rankle, decay, go bad, go to decay, fall into decay, fall into the sear and yellow leaf, rust, crumble, shake, totter, totter to its fall, perish, die, deteriorate, weaken, put back, set back, taint, infect, contaminate, poison, empoison, envenom, canker, corrupt, exulcerate, pollute, vitiate, inquinate, debase, embase, denaturalize, denature, leaven, deflower, debauch, defile, deprave, degrade, ulcerate, stain, discolor, alloy, adulterate, sophisticate, tamper with, prejudice, pervert, prostitute, demoralize, brutalize, render vicious, embitter, acerbate, exacerbate, aggravate, injure, impair, labefy, damage, harm, hurt, shend, scath, scathe, spoil, mar, despoil, dilapidate, waste, overrun, ravage, pillage, wound, stab, pierce, maim, lame, surbate, cripple, hough, hamstring, hit between wind and water, scotch, mangle, mutilate, disfigure, blemish, deface, warp, blight, rot, corrode, erode, wear away, wear out, gnaw, gnaw at the root of, sap, mine, undermine, shake, sap the foundations of, break up, disorganize, dismantle, dismast, destroy, damnify, do one's worst, knock down, deal a blow to, play havoc with, play sad havoc with, play the mischief with, play the deuce with, play the very devil with, play havoc among, play sad havoc among, play the mischief among, play the deuce among, play the very devil among, decimate, Adj, unimproved &c (improve), deteriorated, altered, altered for the worse, injured, sprung, withering, spoiling, on the wane, on the decline, tabid, degenerate, marescent, worse, the worse for, all the worse for, out of repair, out of tune, imperfect, the worse for wear, battered, weathered, weather-beaten, stale, passe, shaken, dilapidated, frayed, faded, wilted, shabby, secondhand, threadbare, worn, worn to a thread, worn to a shadow, worn to the stump, worn to rags, reduced, reduced to a skeleton, far gone, tacky, decayed, moth-eaten, worm-eaten, mildewed, rusty, moldy, spotted, seedy, time-worn, moss-grown, discolored, effete, wasted, crumbling, moldering, rotten, cankered, blighted, tainted, depraved, decrepid, decrepit, broke, busted, broken, out of commission, hors de combat, out of action, broken down, done, done for, done up, worn out, used up, finished, beyond saving, fit for the dust hole, fit for the wastepaper basket, past work, at a low ebb, in a bad way, on one's last legs, undermined, deciduous, nodding to its fall, tottering, past cure, fatigued, retrograde, deleterious, out of the frying pan into the fire, agrescit medendo, what a falling off was there!.
Blemish
N blemish, disfigurement, deformity, adactylism, flaw, defect, injury, spots on the sun, eyesore, stain, blot, spot, spottiness, speck, speckle, blur, tarnish, smudge, dirt, freckle, mole, macula, patch, blotch, birthmark, blobber lip, blubber lip, blain, maculation, scar, wem, pustule, whelk, excrescence, pimple, pitted, freckled, discolored, imperfect, blobber-lipped, bloodshot, injured.Disrepute
N disrepute, discredit, ill repute, bad repute, bad name, bad odor, bad favor, ill name, ill odor, ill favor, disapprobation, ingloriousness, derogation, abasement, debasement, abjectness, degradation, dedecoration, a long farewell to all my greatness, odium, obloquy, opprobrium, ignominy, dishonor, disgrace, shame, humiliation, scandal, baseness, vileness, turpitude, infamy, tarnish, taint, defilement, pollution, stain, blot, spot, blur, stigma, brand, reproach, imputation, slur, crying shame, burning shame, scandalum magnatum, badge of infamy, blot in one's escutcheon, bend sinister, bar sinister, champain, point champain, byword of reproach, Ichabod, argumentum ad verecundiam, sense of shame, disgraced, blown upon, shorn of its beams, shorn of one's glory, overcome, downtrodden, loaded with shame, in bad repute, out of repute, out of favor, out of fashion, out of countenance, at a discount, under a cloud, under an eclipse, unable to show one's face, in the shade, in the background, out at elbows, down at the elbows, down in the world, inglorious, nameless, renownless, obscure, unknown to fame, unnoticed, unnoted, unhonored, unglorified, shameful, disgraceful, discreditable, disreputable, despicable, questionable, unbecoming, unworthy, derogatory, degrading, humiliating, infra dignitatem, dedecorous, scandalous, infamous, too bad, unmentionable, ribald, opprobrious, errant, shocking, outrageous, notorious, ignominious, scrubby, dirty, abject, vile, beggarly, pitiful, low, mean, shabby base, to one's shame be it spoken, Int, fie!, shame!, for shame!, proh pudor!, O tempora!, O mores!, ough!, sic transit gloria mundi!.VB be inglorious, incur disgrace, have a bad name, earn a bad name, put a halter round one's neck, wear a halter round one's neck, disgrace oneself, expose oneself, play second fiddle, lose caste, pale one's ineffectual fire, recede into the shade, fall from one's high estate, keep in the background, be conscious of disgrace, look blue, look foolish, look like a fool, cut a poor figure, cut a sorry figure, laugh on the wrong side of the mouth, make a sorry face, go away with a flea in, one's ear, slink away, cause shame, shame, disgrace, put to shame, dishonor, throw dishonor upon, cast dishonor upon, fling dishonor upon, reflect dishonor upon, be a reproach, to, derogate from, tarnish, stain, blot sully, taint, discredit, degrade, debase, defile, beggar, expel, impute shame to, brand, post, stigmatize, vilify, defame, slur, cast a slur upon, hold up to shame, send to Coventry, tread under foot, trample under foot, show up, drag through the mire, heap dirt upon, reprehend, bring low, put down, snub, take down a peg, take down a peg lower, take down a peg or two, obscure, eclipse, outshine, take the shine out of, throw into the shade, cast into the shade, overshadow, leave in the background, put in the background, push into a corner, put one's nose out of joint, put out, put out of countenance, upset, throw off one's center, discompose, disconcert, put to the blush.
Color
N color, hue, tint, tinge, dye, complexion, shade, tincture, cast, livery, coloration, glow, flush, tone, key, pure color, positive color, primary color, primitive complementary color, three primaries, spectrum, chromatic dispersion, broken color, secondary color, tertiary color, local color, coloring, keeping, tone, value, aerial perspective, chromatics, spectrum analysis, spectroscopy, chromatism, chromatography, chromatology, prism, spectroscope, spectrograph, spectrometer, colorimeter (optical instruments), pigment, coloring matter, paint, dye, wash, distemper, stain, medium, mordant, oil paint, colored, colorific, tingent, tinctorial, chromatic, prismatic, full-colored, high-colored, deep-colored, doubly-dyed, polychromatic, chromatogenous, tingible, bright, vivid, intense, deep, fresh, unfaded, rich, gorgeous, gay, gaudy, florid, gay, garish, rainbow-colored, multihued, showy, flaunting, flashy, raw, crude, glaring, flaring, discordant, inharmonious, mellow, pastel, harmonious, pearly, sweet, delicate, tender, refined.VB color, dye, tinge, stain, tint, tinct, paint, wash, ingrain, grain, illuminate, emblazon, bedizen, imbue, paint.
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