a. [f. STAIN sb. + -LESS.] Without stain, spot or blemish. a. lit.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xi. (1912), 221. The Phœnix wings are not so rare For faultlesse length, and stainelesse hewe.
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. iii. 61. The Hare-bell for her stainlesse azur’d hue, Claimes to be worne of none but those are true.
1813. Shelley, Q. Mab, vi. 7. The stainless mirror of the lake Re-images the eastern gloom.
1867. Augusta Wilson, Vashti, xxxv. Robed in a soft stainless white muslin.
b. fig.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. ii. 13. Learne me how to loose a winning match, Plaid for a paire of stainlesse Maidenhoods. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., I. v. 278. Of fresh and stainlesse youth.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, III. ii. 17. With stainless Lustre Virtue shines.
1814. Byron, Lara, II. viii. But that long absence from his native clime Had left him stainless of oppression’s crime.
1819. Crabbe, Tales of Hall, VIII. 231. The very care he took to keep his name Stainless.
1889. Barrie, Window in Thrums, 176. Leeby, that stainless young woman.
1893. Cath. News, 11 Nov., 2/3. The stainless Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Hence Stainlessly adv., Stainlessness.
1862. Edin. Rev., CXVI. 200. When the divorce was threatened, she again avowed her affection for Königsmark, and offered to take the sacrament on its stainlessness.
1882. Farrar, Early Chr., I. 106. To represent the Christian Church as ideally pure, as stainlessly excellent and perfect, would be altogether a mistake.
1887. Academy, 1 Jan., 16/3. Purity of heart, absolute stainlessness of soul.
