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Pale Very Common

Pale has 12 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Verb · Adjective

Definitions
Noun
1

a wooden strip forming part of a fence

"The old fence needed new pale to replace the ones rotting in the rain."

2

Paleness; pallor.

"The old fence was made entirely of weathered pales that had lost their original paint."

3

A wooden stake; a picket.

Verb
1

turn pale, as if in fear

"When the intruder burst through the door, she turned pale and clutched her necklace tightly."

2

To turn pale; to lose colour.

"The ancient walls were pale in by thick rows of sharpened stakes to keep the invaders out."

3

To enclose with pales, or as if with pales; to encircle or encompass; to fence off.

In plain English: To pale means to lose your brightness, color, or importance when compared to something else that is much better.

"She watched her face pale at the thought of being late for work."

Usage: Use "pale" as a verb primarily when describing something turning white or losing its color due to shock, fear, or illness. Do not confuse this action with the noun form referring to a wooden fence post unless specifically discussing fencing construction.

Adjective
1

very light colored; highly diluted with white

"pale seagreen"

"pale blue eyes"

2

(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble

"the pale light of a half moon"

"a pale sun"

"the late afternoon light coming through the el tracks fell in pale oblongs on the street"

"a pallid sky"

"the pale (or wan) stars"

"the wan light of dawn"

3

lacking in vitality or interest or effectiveness

"a pale rendition of the aria"

"pale prose with the faint sweetness of lavender"

"a pallid performance"

4

abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress

"the pallid face of the invalid"

"her wan face suddenly flushed"

5

not full or rich

"high, pale, pure and lovely song"

6

Light in color.

"The moon appeared pale and ghostly against the dark night sky."

Example Sentences
"She watched her face pale at the thought of being late for work." verb
"The strong sunlight made his face pale." verb
"She seemed to pale when she heard the bad news." verb
"Even in bright light, he paled compared to the vibrant colors around him." verb
See Also
impale pallescent natty bleak pasty vergette death warmed up watery
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
strip discolor

Origin

The word "pale" comes from the Latin verb meaning "to be gray," which entered Middle English via Old French before replacing an older Germanic term with a similar sound. Its original sense referred to turning pale or fading, reflecting its root in Proto-Indo-European for the color gray.

Rhyming Words
ale gale dale bale tale cale kale hale sale nale yale vale zale rale swale orale teale peale whale guale
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