/
ˈdɪzm(ə)l/
adj.
- causing or showing gloom or depression; dreary.
- informal pitifully or disgracefully bad:
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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’.
