[ˈdɪzm(ə)l], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- causing a mood of gloom or depression; depressing; dreary
(e.g: the dismal weather made the late afternoon seem like evening)

- pitifully or disgracefully bad
(e.g: he shuddered as he watched his team's dismal performance)


Phrases:
- the dismal science
- the dismals

Origin:
late Middle English: from earlier dismal (noun), denoting the two days in each month which in medieval times were believed to be unlucky, from Anglo-Norman French dis mal, from medieval Latin dies mali ‘evil days’