[bleak] adj [ME bleke pale; prob. akin to OE blac] (1574) 1: exposed and barren and often windswept
2: cold, raw "a ~ November evening" 3 a: lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness: grim b: not hopeful or encouraging: depressing "a ~ outlook" c: severely simple or austere -- bleak.ish adj -- bleak.ly adv -- bleak.ness n