a. [ Formerly a noun; e. g., “I trow it was in the dismalle.” Chaucer. Of uncertain origin; but perh. (as suggested by Skeat) from OF. disme, F. dîme, tithe, the phrase dismal day properly meaning, the day when tithes must be paid. See Dime. ] 1. Fatal; ill-omened; unlucky. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] An ugly fiend more foul than dismal day. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Gloomy to the eye or ear; sorrowful and depressing to the feelings; foreboding; cheerless; dull; dreary; as, a dismal outlook; dismal stories; a dismal place. [ 1913 Webster ] Full well the busy whisper, circling round,
Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frowned. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ] A dismal description of an English November. Southey. Syn. -- Dreary; lonesome; gloomy; dark; ominous; ill-boding; fatal; doleful; lugubrious; funereal; dolorous; calamitous; sorrowful; sad; joyless; melancholy; unfortunate; unhappy. [ 1913 Webster ] | 