Adjective the pale wood of the table The walls were painted a pale blue. She has a pale complexion. Her illness had left her pale and weak. She grew pale with fright. Are you feeling well? You look pale. the pale light of dawn See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But the real winner is likely Craig’s summer vacation outfits, done in pale pastels and with jaunty neck kerchiefs that may actually be an emulatable style. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2022 The pale blue walls and large crystal chandeliers of the ballroom set a stately tone for the soirée as attendees excitedly explored the famed New York mansion. Concetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2022 To nail the look, lose the pink sash and dye this white Regency dress a pretty pale blue with Rit DyeMore. Jill Gleeson, Country Living, 9 Sep. 2022 The fishermen arranged the pale pink chunks on a plastic plate and devoured them raw. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 While visiting Malta with Prince Philip in 1951, the monarch wore a pale purple, beaded gown and fur stole, accessorizing with elbow-length white gloves and plenty of diamonds. Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Illinois residents are being asked for something different: Look for the insect — pale purplish with flashes of orange on its hind wings — and take a picture so experts can confirm its identity. Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 The human rights lawyer channeled the Art Deco era in an icy pale blue gown with sequins arranged in a classic chevron pattern. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Sep. 2022 Seated on a red couch in front of a pale peach colored background, the artist uses large fields of warm reds in the background and a soft treatment of the figure to produce a romantic depiction of the former first lady. Adrienne L. Childs, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022
Noun
While Mayor Daley said that the new developments would include plenty of affordable housing for residents to return to the neighborhood, the 15,000 promised family units in the city overall pale in comparison to the city’s actual need. Andrew R. Chow, Time, 27 Aug. 2021 Clark's sermon, which was roundly condemned as derogatory and beyond-the-pale for a religious sermon. Matthew Brown, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2021 In contrast, the store carries just a half-dozen pale ales. Kate Bernot, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Aug. 2022 In contrast, the store carries just a half-dozen pale ales. Kate Bernot, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022 Nicholas Hoult, the beloved crown prince of playing pale and sniveling little freaks, has been cast as one of literature’s most notorious little freaks of all: the bug-eating Renfield, Dracula’s familiar. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2021 Minogue's Rosé is an elegant pale pink with aromas of pink grapefruit, watermelon and lemon blossom. Linda Marx, PEOPLE.com, 14 June 2022 The chain’s potential pitfalls at home pale in comparison with those abroad, though. Spencer Jakab, WSJ, 25 Mar. 2022 So here James sits sipping a gin and tonic at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills, her pale-lavender nails clashing playfully against her black leather jacket, discussing the show that’s launched her career into the stratosphere. Amy Nicholson, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2022
Verb
The Transit Connect sold 41,598 units in the U.S. in 2019, but managed to move just 26,112 in 2021; both of these figures pale in comparison to the full-size Transit, which racked up over 130,000 sales in both 2019 and 2020. Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 1 Sep. 2022 The breads also pale in comparison to the role models at Rasika in Penn Quarter, with the exception of the flaky parota, similar to paratha but thicker and richer. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 This year’s complaints pale in comparison to last year’s, however, when one episode drew a record 25,000 complaints after couple Teddy Soares and Faye Winter had an intense argument, with most of the complaints about Winter’s behavior. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 5 July 2022 For many people, the potential side effects pale in comparison to the chance at stopping their psoriasis from progressing. Kate Watson, Allure, 4 July 2022 Those various special effects pale beside the most important one, Michael Giacchino’s score. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2022 But those pale in comparison to what Republicans have done in Texas, Georgia, potentially in Florida. David Morgan, CBS News, 9 May 2022 But these pale in comparison to what Russia has undertaken over the past month. Shay Khatiri, The Week, 26 Mar. 2022 But those numbers pale in comparison to the haul by Saudi Aramco. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 15 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English pale, paal, palle, borrowed from Anglo-French pale, palle, paille (also continental Old French), borrowed (with loss of unstressed -id-) from Latin pallidus "pale, colorless," formed with the adjective suffix -idus from the same base as pallēre "to be pale or bloodless, have a pale color," pallor "paleness of complexion, loss of color" — more at fallow entry 1
Verb (1)
Middle English palen, borrowed from Anglo-French palir (continental Old French palir, paloïr), going back (with conjugation change) to Latin pallēscere "to grow pale, turn a pale color," inchoative derivative of pallēre "to be pale or bloodless, have a pale color" — more at fallow entry 1
Noun and Verb (2)
Middle English, from Anglo-French pel, pal stake, from Latin palus — more at pole