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lurid

 - 3 dictionary results

lu⋅rid

[loor-id]
–adjective
1. gruesome; horrible; revolting: the lurid details of an accident.
2. glaringly vivid or sensational; shocking: the lurid tales of pulp magazines.
3. terrible in intensity, fierce passion, or unrestraint: lurid crimes.
4. lighted or shining with an unnatural, fiery glow; wildly or garishly red: a lurid sunset.
5. wan, pallid, or ghastly in hue; livid.

Origin:
1650–60; < L lūridus sallow, ghastly


lu⋅rid⋅ly, adverb
lu⋅rid⋅ness, noun


5. dismal, pale, murky.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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lu·rid   (lŏŏr'ĭd)   
adj.  
  1. Causing shock or horror; gruesome.

  2. Marked by sensationalism: a lurid account of the crime. See Synonyms at ghastly.

  3. Glowing or shining with the glare of fire through a haze: lurid flames.

  4. Sallow or pallid in color.


[Latin lūridus, pale, from lūror, paleness.]
lu'rid·ly adv., lu'rid·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

lurid 
1656, from L. luridus "pale yellow, ghastly," of uncertain origin, perhaps cognate with Gk. khloros (see Chloe). The figurative sense of "sensational" is first attested 1850.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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