bleakish

1 definition found

bleakish - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Bleak \Bleak\ (bl[=e]k), a. [OE. blac, bleyke, bleche, AS.
     bl[=a]c, bl[=ae]c, pale, wan; akin to Icel. bleikr, Sw. blek,
     Dan. bleg, OS. bl[=e]k, D. bleek, OHG. pleih, G. bleich; all
     from the root of AS. bl[imac]can to shine; akin to OHG.
     bl[imac]chen to shine; cf. L. flagrare to burn, Gr. fle`gein
     to burn, shine, Skr. bhr[=a]j to shine, and E. flame.
     [root]98. Cf. Bleach, Blink, Flame.]
     1. Without color; pale; pallid. [Obs.]
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              When she came out she looked as pale and as bleak as
              one that were laid out dead.          --Foxe.
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     2. Desolate and exposed; swept by cold winds.
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              Wastes too bleak to rear
              The common growth of earth, the foodful ear.
                                                    --Wordsworth.
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              At daybreak, on the bleak sea beach.  --Longfellow.
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     3. Cold and cutting; cheerless; as, a bleak blast.
        [1913 Webster] -- Bleak"ish, a. -- Bleak"ly, adv. --
        Bleak"ness, n.
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