— dismally , adv. — dismalness, dismality , n.
/diz"meuhl/ , adj.
1. causing gloom or dejection; gloomy; dreary; cheerless; melancholy: dismal weather.
2. characterized by ineptness or lack of skill, competence, effectiveness, imagination, or interest; pitiful: Our team played a dismal game.
3. Obs.
a. disastrous; calamitous.
b. unlucky; sinister.
n.
4. Southern U.S. a tract of swampy land, usually along the coast.
[ 1275-1325; ME dismale unlucky time, dismol day one of two days in each month considered unlucky (hence later taken as adj.) dis mal dies mali lit., evil days ]
Syn. 2. hopeless, abysmal, dreadful.
Ant. 1. cheerful; gay.