dismal

The definition of dismal is something that is gloomy that makes you feel sad.

(adjective)

An example of dismal is a cloudy day.

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See dismal in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. causing gloom or misery; depressing
  2. dark and gloomy; bleak; dreary
  3. depressed; miserable

Origin: ME, orig. n., evil days (of the medieval calendar) < OFr dis mal < ML dies mali, evil days: see deity & mal-

Related Forms:

See dismal in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Causing gloom or depression; dreary: dismal weather; took a dismal view of the economy.
  2. Characterized by ineptitude, dullness, or a lack of merit: a dismal book; a dismal performance on the cello.
  3. Obsolete Dreadful; disastrous.
noun
Chiefly South Atlantic U.S. See pocosin. See Regional Note at pocosin.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, unlucky days, unlucky

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman, unlucky days

Origin: , from Medieval Latin diēs malī

Origin: : Latin diēs

Origin: , pl. of diēs, day; see dyeu- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + Latin malī

Origin: , pl. of malus, evil; see mel-3 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • disˈmal·ly adverb
  • disˈmal·ness noun

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