pale

pale¹ / pāl/ • adj. light in color or having little color: choose pale floral patterns for walls. ∎  (of a person's face or complexion) having less color than usual, typically as a result of shock, fear, or ill health: she looked pale and drawn. ∎ fig. feeble and unimpressive: unconvincing rock that came across as a pale imitation of Bruce Springsteen. • v. [intr.] 1. become pale in one's face from shock or fear: I paled at the thought of what she might say. 2. seem less impressive or important: all else pales by comparison | his own problems paled into insignificance compared to the plight of this child. DERIVATIVES: pale·ly adv. pale·ness n. pal·ish adj. pale² • n. 1. a wooden stake or post used as an upright along with others to form a fence. ∎ fig. a boundary: bring these things back within the pale of decency. ∎ archaic or hist. an area within determined bounds, or subject to a particular jurisdiction. 2. (the Pale) hist. another term for English Pale. ∎  the areas of Russia to which Jewish residence was restricted. 3. Heraldry a broad vertical stripe down the middle of a shield. PHRASES: beyond the pale outside the bounds of acceptable behavior: the language my father used was beyond the pale. in pale Heraldry arranged vertically. per pale Heraldry divided by a vertical line.