distain

English

Etymology 1

From Old French desteindre.

Verb

distain (third-person singular simple present distains, present participle distaining, simple past and past participle distained)

1. (rare) To stain, discolour or tarnish
   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene ii:

     Thence riſe the tears that ſo diſtaine my cheeks,
     Fearing his loue through my vnworthyneſſe.

Etymology 2

Noun

distain

1. Misspelling of disdain.