Dis'mal, a.

(dĭz'mal, 91), a. [Originally a noun; e. g., “I trow it was in the dismall,” Chaucer; from Lat. dies malus, an evil day; cf. Spenser, “An ugly fiend, more foul than dismal day.”] Gloomy to the eye or ear; sorrowful and depressing to the feelings; foreboding; cheerless; dull; dark. “A dismal description of an English November.” Southey.

Synonyms—Dreary; lonesome; gloomy; dark; doleful; horrid; dire; direful; frightful; horrible; lamentable; dolorous; calamitous; sorrowful; sad; melancholy; unfortunate; unhappy.