adjective paler pal′er, palest pal′·est

1. of a whitish or colorless complexion; pallid; wan
2. lacking intensity or brilliance: said of color, light, etc.; faint; dim
3. feeble; weak a pale imitation

Etymology: OFr < L pallidus, pale: see fallow

intransitive verb paled, paling pal′·ing

1. to become pale
2. to seem weaker or less important

transitive verb

noun

1. a narrow, upright, pointed stake used in fences; picket
2. a fence; enclosure; boundary; restriction: now chiefly figurative outside the pale of the law, beyond the pale (of respectability)
3. a territory or district enclosed within bounds
4. Bot. a chaffy bract or scale; esp., a bract at the base of a floret of a composite flower
5. Heraldry a vertical band forming the middle third of a shield

Etymology: ME < MFr pal < L palus, a stake < IE base *pak-, to fasten (as by ramming into the ground) > Gr passalos, a peg, stake, L pax, peace