Inkstains

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Marks or spots made by spilled or smeared ink on a surface ; remnants of ink left unintentionally on paper, skin, or fabric ; visible discolorations resulting from accidental contact with wet ink
2. Blotches or smudges caused by liquid ink transferring onto objects ; stains indicating the presence of ink residue usually found on hands or documents ; imperfections on materials produced by ink spills or leaks
3. Discolorations that appear when ink unintentionally contacts surfaces ; traces left behind by ink that mar clean paper or clothing ; smears or splashes of ink resulting from careless handling or accidents

Etymology: "Inkstains" is simply the plural of "inkstain," a compound built from "ink" and "stain." Both parts have long roots in English: "ink" comes from Old French "enque," which passed through Medieval Latin and ultimately traces back to Greek "enkaustos," meaning "burnt in," a reference to the burnt-in pigment used in ancient writing. "Stain" is a much older native word, related to "distain," once meaning to discolour or dim. Put together, the compound describes exactly what it sounds like: a mark left where ink has landed, whether on a writer's fingers or on a page. The plural form simply counts the marks, and the word has needed no special invention beyond joining two familiar terms.

Synonyms: blots, smudges, marks, spots, smears

Antonyms: cleanliness, purity, cleanness