A stain or mark that appears or becomes visible after the initial staining, or a lasting negative impression.
Compound of 'after' and 'stain' (from Old Norse 'steinn' meaning color or dye). The metaphorical sense developed to describe lasting consequences or tarnished reputation.
Historians use 'afterstain' to describe how scandals permanently damage reputations—like how a single mistake can leave an 'afterstain' on someone's character that takes years to fade!
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