distain

verb

dis·​tain dis-ˈtān 

distained; distaining; distains

transitive verb

1

archaic : stain

2

archaic : dishonor

Synonyms

• befoul
• begrime
• bemire
• besmirch
• blacken
• daub
• dirty
• foul
• gaum [dialect]
• grime
• mire
• muck
• muddy
• smirch
• smudge
• soil
• stain
• sully

Examples of distain in a Sentence

weary soldiers with hands distained with blood

Word History

Etymology

Middle English disteynen, from Anglo-French desteindre to take away the color of, from de- + teindre to dye, from Latin tingere to wet, dye — more at tinge

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1