palepeɪl(adj.)pal•er, pal•est

1. (adj.)lacking intensity of color; colorless or whitish:

   a pale complexion.

2. of a low degree of chroma, saturation, or purity; approaching white or gray:

   pale yellow.

3. not bright or brilliant; dim:

   the pale moon.

4. faint or feeble; weak:

   a pale protest.

5. (v.t.)to make or become pale:

   to pale at the sight of blood.

Origin of pale:

1250–1300; ME < MF < L palliduspallid

pale′ness(n.)

palepeɪl(n.; v.)paled, pal•ing.

1. (n.)a stake or picket, as of a fence.

   Category: Building Trades

2. an enclosing or confining barrier; enclosure.

3. an enclosed area.

4. limits; bounds:

   outside the pale of my jurisdiction.

5. a district or region within designated bounds.

6. a central vertical stripe in a heraldic escutcheon.

   Category: Heraldry

7. (v.t.)to enclose with pales; fence.

   Category: Building Trades

8. to encircle or encompass.

Idioms for pale:

1. beyond the pale,beyond the limits of propriety, courtesy, etc.

   Category: Idiom

Origin of pale:

1300–50; ME (north), OE pāl < L pālus stake

pale-

1. var. of paleo- before vowels:

   palearctic.

   Category: Affix