pallid

[ pal-id ]

adjective

1. pale; faint or deficient in color; wan:

   a pallid countenance.

2. lacking in vitality or interest:

   a pallid musical performance.

pallid

/ ˈpælɪd /

adjective

1. lacking colour or brightness; wan

   a pallid complexion

2. lacking vigour; vapid

   a pallid performance

Derived Forms

• ˈpallidness, noun
• ˈpallidly, adverb

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pallid¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin pallidus “sallow,” equivalent to pall(ēre) “to be pale” + -idus adjective suffix ( -id ⁴ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pallid¹

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

Synonym Study

See pale ¹.

Example Sentences

Below it is a beautiful, pallid block that we will just call square chicken with a “tender sausage” description.

From Eater

Researchers have also discovered that the pallid bat and grasshopper mouse are immune to scorpion venom and are studying those species to see if they might provide the key to pain relief for humans.

From Popular-Science

There was deep brown flesh, and bronze flesh, and pallid white flesh, and flesh turned red from the hot sun.

From The Daily Beast

Her pallid young face, brow sweating with fear and pain, yet resolute and stiff with sorrow, makes you want to cry.

From The Daily Beast

The city, the state, the whole land, were ready to rise and tremble before the Pallid Mask.

From The Daily Beast

Hovering near the unmanned iPod resting on the side bar, stands a short, pallid blond man.

From The Daily Beast

Taken together, the U.S. group, Joyce Carol Oates, E.L. Doctorow, and Evan S. Connell, feels strangely pallid.

From The Daily Beast

The baron's pallid face looked more bloodless, his accent was fiercer, and his countenance more ruffianly as he uttered all this.

From Project Gutenberg

For the first, and up to now as I write, the only, time in his life he realized the gorgeous visions of pallid years.

From Project Gutenberg

Pallid, Sir Lucien Pyne lay by the ebony chair glaring horribly upward.

From Project Gutenberg

"Yes," said Maud Barrington, noticing the sudden intentness of his pallid face.

From Project Gutenberg

Barrington did so, and Winston stood so that no light fell on the pallid face in the grass.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anemic
• feeble
• ghastly
• lackluster
• sickly
• uninspired