stainlessadj.n.
/ˈsteɪnlɪs/ A. adj.
1. Without stain, spot, or blemish.
a. literal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > [adjective]
cleanc897
fair?c1225
netc1330
cleanly1340
unspotted1382
blotless?a1400
unwemmeda1400
spotlessc1400
neat1494
unblotted1548
unstained1555
stainlessa1586
exempt1586
unsoiledc1592
undefiled1596
unsullied1598
dirtlessa1618
immaculatea1631
innocent1645
unsmeared1648
unsmutched1809
speckless1827
spandy-clean1838
unblackened1864
soilless1868
smudgeless1924
clinical1932
squeaky clean1975
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xi. sig. V8 The Phœnix wings are not so rare For faultlesse length, and stainelesse hewe.
1616 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals II. iii. 61 The Hare-bell for her stainlesse azur'd hue, Claimes to be worne of none but those are true.
1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab vi. 73 The stainless mirror of the lake Re-images the eastern gloom.
1869 A. J. Evans Vashti xxxv. 471 Robed in a soft stainless white muslin.
b. figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > [adjective]
cleanlyc888
unwemmedc950
clean971
lightOE
whiteOE
unfiledc1200
shire?c1225
sheenc1275
wemlessc1275
undefouled13..
undefoileda1325
purec1330
unbleckedc1380
unfouledc1380
clear1382
impollutec1384
unblemishedc1400
undefiledc1400
unspottedc1400
virginc1400
spotless?a1430
immaculate1441
uncorruptc1450
unpollushed1490
intemeratea1492
incorrupted1529
unmaculate1535
impolluted1548
crystallinec1550
incorrupt1550
uncorrupted1565
undistained1565
unstained1573
entire1587
taintless1590
untainted1590
stainless1599
unsmirched1604
intemerated1608
indepravate1609
chastea1616
uncurseda1628
undishonested1631
untaint1638
Adamical1649
sincere1649
undebaucheda1656
unaccurseda1674
amiantal1674
unsoiled1699
unpolluted1732
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iii. ii. 13 Learne me how to loose a winning match, Plaide for a paire of stainlesse maydenhoods. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) i. v. 248 Of fresh and stainlesse youth. View more context for this quotation
1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes (new ed.) I. iii. ii. 17 With stainless Lustre Virtue shines.
1814 Ld. Byron Lara ii. viii. 816 But that long absence from his native clime Had left him stainless of oppression's crime.
1819 G. Crabbe Tales of Hall I. viii. 184 The very care he took to keep his name Stainless.
1889 J. M. Barrie Window in Thrums 176 Leeby, that stainless young woman.
1893 Catholic News 11 Nov. 2/3 The stainless Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
2. Highly resistant to staining or corrosion. See also stainless steel n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > treated or processed in specific way > [adjective] > rendered stain-resistant
spot-proof1886
stainless1897
stain-resistant1960
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > qualities of metals > [adjective] > resistant to staining or rusting
rust-resisting1868
stainless1921
1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 244/1 Ladies' Fast Black Cotton Hose... Fast color and stainless.
1921 Engineer 11 Nov. 504/2 Stainless iron may be easily forged by hand into such difficult objects as spurs.
1926 Encycl. Brit. Suppl. II. 880/1 The production of ‘stainless’ cutlery.
1932 Discovery May 145/1 Low carbon stainless steel, frequently called stainless iron, contains less than 0·12 per cent of carbon and from 11 to 12 per cent of chromium.
1945 ABC of Cookery (Min. of Food) i. 8 Any cutlery which is not stainless should be kept well polished.
1960 Good Housek. Cookery Bk. (rev. ed.) 574/1 A sharp-pointed, stainless vegetable knife.
1979 T. Motogoshi in M. Nurse Stainless Steel 19/1 The use of stainless tubes has been boosted by the increase in the erection of high rise buildings.
B. n.
elliptical for stainless steel n.; articles made of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > steel > [noun] > alloy steels > chromium or stainless steel
chrome steel1878
stainless steel1917
Staybrite1925
stainless1971
1971 G. V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1972) x. 64 I don't care whether it's the stainless or not... I got to have the stuff.
1975 New Yorker 26 May 111 (advt.) Galax, a unique combination of solid brass and 18-8 stainless, is light-years ahead in function and design.
1977 C. McFadden Serial (1978) i. 8/2 They spent it rapidly on..Dansk stainless and Rosenthal china.
Derivatives
ˈstainlessly adv.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > [adverb]
cleanlyc1200
shirelyc1230
purely?a1425
undefiledly1548
sincerely1578
unspottedly1598
purea1616
immaculately1620
intemeratelya1631
spotlesslya1671
stainlessly1882
1882 F. W. Farrar Early Days Christianity I. 106 To represent the Christian Church as ideally pure, as stainlessly excellent and perfect, would be altogether a mistake.
ˈstainlessness n.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > [noun]
cleannessc890
unwemmednessc1175
purity?c1225
shireness?c1225
cleanshipc1230
uncorruptionc1384
purenessa1398
undefoulingnessc1400
whitenessc1400
cleanliness1430
immaculation1509
clearness1526
undefiledness1571
uncorruptness1583
unspottedness1598
intemerateness1607
uncorruptedness1611
candour1612
spotlessness1619
immaculateness1641
candidness1654
unblemishedness1656
intemeration1660
unstainedness1685
pearliness1760
taintlessness1811
stainlessness1862
1862 Edinb. Rev. 116 200 When the divorce was threatened, she again avowed her affection for Königsmark, and offered to take the sacrament on its stainlessness.
1887 Academy 1 Jan. 16/3 Purity of heart, absolute stainlessness of soul.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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adj.n.a1586