v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distained p. pr. & vb. n. Distaining. ] [ OE. desteinen, OF. desteindre to take away the color, F. déteindre; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F. teindre to tinge, dye, L. tingere. See Tinge, and cf. Stain. ] To tinge with a different color from the natural or proper one; to stain; to discolor; to sully; to tarnish; to defile; -- used chiefly in poetry. “Distained with dirt and blood.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
[ She ] hath . . . distained her honorable blood. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
The worthiness of praise distains his worth. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]