[ 'dɪzm(ə)l ]
■ adjective
1》 causing or showing gloom or depression; dreary.
2》 informal pitifully or disgracefully bad: a ~ performance.
Phrases
the ~ science humorous economics.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
ME: from earlier ~s , the two days in each month which in medieval times were believed to be unlucky, from Anglo-Norman Fr. dis mal , from med. L. dies mali 'evil days'.