I. (ˈ)pa|stel noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, from Provençal, from Late Latin pastellus woad, diminutive of Late Latin pasta paste; from the paste made of its twigs in producing the dye
: woad
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from Italian pastello, from Late Latin pastellus
1. : a paste composed of a color ground and compounded with an aqueous binder and used for making crayons ; also : a crayon made of such paste
2.
a. : a drawing in pastel
b. : the process or art of drawing with pastels
3. : a light, brief, and rather formless literary study or sketch
4. : any of various pale or light colors
its colors lost their infernal intensity, paled to harmless-looking but deadly pastels — Time
III. adjective
1. : of or relating to a pastel : made with pastels
a pastel drawing
2. : pale and light in color : lacking in brilliance or intensity
pastel shades
a pastel prettiness
3. : resembling a pastel : lacking in body or vigor : delicate , light
a pastel and dreamy world — rather thin and bloodless — J.F.Nims
a tendency to suffuse with a pastel optimism even the dark moments — Leon Edel