pallid

[ pal-id ]
See synonyms for: pallidpallidness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. pale; faint or deficient in color; wan: a pallid countenance.

  2. lacking in vitality or interest: a pallid musical performance.

Origin of pallid

1
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin pallidus “sallow,” equivalent to pall(ēre) “to be pale” + -idus adjective suffix (see -id4)

synonym study For pallid

1. See pale1.

Other words from pallid

  • pal·lid·ly, adverb
  • pal·lid·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pallid in a sentence

  • Old Jerry had never before seen her in a rage; he had never before seen anybody so terribly, pallidly violent.

    Once to Every Man | Larry Evans
  • Many gigantic and pallidly white birds flew continuously now from beyond the veil, and their scream was the eternal Tekeli-li!

  • He saw the town-hall clock pallidly illuminated above its tower.

    Tales of the Chesapeake | George Alfred Townsend
  • Young Mrs. Wiley stared pallidly at the likeness of the founder of the Wiley clan.

    Old Mr. Wiley | Fanny Greye La Spina
  • She stood there, pallidly uncertain, looking on the conflagration love had wrought.

    The Reckoning | Robert W. Chambers

British Dictionary definitions for pallid

pallid

/ (ˈpælɪd) /


adjective
  1. lacking colour or brightness; wan: a pallid complexion

  2. lacking vigour; vapid: a pallid performance

Origin of pallid

1
C17: from Latin pallidus, from pallēre to be pale 1

Derived forms of pallid

  • pallidly, adverb
  • pallidness or pallidity, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012