Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DIS-TAIN', v.t. [dis and stain. This seems to be from the French deteindre, from the L. tingo; but see Stain.]

1. To stain; to tinge with any different color from the natural or proper one; to discolor. We speak of a sword distained with blood; a garment distained with gore. It has precisely the signification of stain, but is used chiefly or appropriately in poetry and the higher kinds of prose.
2. To blot; to sully; to defile; to tarnish. She distained her honorable blood. – Spenser. The worthiness of praise distains his worth. – Shak.