/
ˈdɪzm(ə)l/
adj.
  - causing or showing gloom or depression; dreary.
 - informal pitifully or disgracefully bad:
 a dismal performance.
 
Phrase
- the dismal science
 humorous economics. 
Derivative
- dismally adv.
  - dismalness n.
 
Etymology
ME: from earlier dismals, the two days in each month which in medieval times were believed to be unlucky, from Anglo-Norman Fr. dis mal, from med. L. dies mali ‘evil days’.