dismal

• adj. 凄凉的，忧郁的；阴沉的，沉闷的
• n. 低落的情绪

来自拉丁语dies mali, 即malicious day. 后用做形容词，凄凉的，阴沉的。

1. depressing in character or appearance;

"drove through dingy streets"

"the dismal prison twilight"- Charles Dickens

"drab old buildings"

"a dreary mining town"

"gloomy tenements"

"sorry routine that follows on the heels of death"- B.A.Williams

2. causing dejection;

"a blue day"

"the dark days of the war"

"a week of rainy depressing weather"

"a disconsolate winter landscape"

"the first dismal dispiriting days of November"

"a dark gloomy day"

"grim rainy weather"

dismal

dismal: [13] Etymologically, dismal means ‘bad day’. It comes, via Anglo-Norman dis mal, from Latin diēs malī, literally ‘evil days’, a term used to denote the two days in each month which according to ancient superstition were supposed to be unlucky (these days, of set date, were said originally to have been computed by Egyptian astrologers, and were hence also called Egyptian days). The term dismal thus acquired connotations of ‘gloom’ and ‘calamity’. Its earliest adjectival use, somewhat tautologically, was in the phrase dismal day, but in the late 16th century it broadened out considerably in application.

dismal (adj.)

c. 1400, from Anglo-French dismal (mid-13c.), from Old French (li) dis mals "(the) bad days," from Medieval Latin dies mali "evil or unlucky days" (also called dies Ægyptiaci), from Latin dies "days" (see diurnal) + mali, plural of malus "bad" (see mal-).

Through the Middle Ages, calendars marked two days of each month as unlucky, supposedly based on the ancient calculations of Egyptian astrologers (Jan. 1, 25; Feb. 4, 26; March 1, 28; April 10, 20; May 3, 25; June 10, 16; July 13, 22; Aug. 1, 30; Sept. 3, 21; Oct. 3, 22; Nov. 5, 28; Dec. 7, 22). Modern sense of "gloomy, dreary" first recorded in English 1590s, in reference to sounds. Related: Dismally.

Your prospects would be almost as dismal if arguments were even just competitions-like, say, tennis games.

2020年考研真题（英语一）翻译 Section Ⅲ

The singer gave a dismal performance of some old songs.

那歌手唱了几首老歌，唱得不怎么样。

牛津词典

Their recent attempt to increase sales has been a dismal failure .

他们最近努力想提高销售量，全是白费劲。

牛津词典

I tried not to laugh but failed dismally (= was completely unsuccessful) .

我想尽量忍着不笑，但根本忍不住。

牛津词典

dismal conditions/surroundings/weather

悲惨的状况；凄凉的环境；阴沉的天气

牛津词典

...Israel's dismal record in the Olympics...

以色列在奥运会上让人沮丧的记录

柯林斯高阶英语词典

My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal...

我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

The main part of the hospital is pretty dismal but the children's ward is really lively.

医院的主体部分死气沉沉，但是儿科病房却充满生气。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

...a dark dismal day with rain falling steadily...

天空昏暗、阴雨绵绵的一天

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Commutes are more dismal than ever.

通勤者也比以往任何时候更沮丧.

期刊摘选

Then came night - dark, dismal, silent night.

夜已来临,这是黑暗, 凄凉, 沉寂的一夜.

辞典例句

New research may brighten the currently dismal outlook for elderly patients acute myeloid leukemia ( AML ).

新的研究也许会为目前老年 AML 较为晦暗的治疗现状带来希望.

期刊摘选

Frustrated, and with my player ranking at a dismal 430 th out of 450, I give up.

最后看着我的排名停滞在430名(共有450名玩家), 我还是灰溜溜地放弃了.

期刊摘选

As the dismal TV ratings suggest, it was also difficult to watch.

正如低的可怜的电视收视率向我们暗示的那样, 它(比赛)实在槽糕透了.

期刊摘选

The dismal wind was muttering round the house.

屋外阴风飒飒.

辞典例句

These are dismal figures.

这些数字令人沮丧.

期刊摘选

There never was such a dreary, dismal scene as the formerly cheerful house presented!

这所以前是很欢乐的房子从来没有呈现过这么一幅荒凉阴郁的景象.

辞典例句

His reflections as he made his toilette were rather dismal.

在他梳装打扮的时候,他头脑里思绪万千,并不愉快.

辞典例句

The house is so antique and dismal that it depresses me dreadfully.

那所房子又古老,又阴惨惨的;我在那儿就闷得要死.

辞典例句

The confusion caused by the dismal economy led to protests.

经济低迷引起的混乱导致了多起抗议.

期刊摘选

That is a rather dismal melody.

那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲.

《简明英汉词典》

But the past year has been especially dismal.

但是过去的一年特别艰难.

期刊摘选

Even the most dismal and unstable circumstances can become something to be clung to.

即使最凄惨和不稳定的情况依然可以成为值得坚持的情况.

期刊摘选

At this dismal news, I twisted the only button on my waistcoat round and round.

一听到这个扫兴的消息, 急得我扭着背心上仅剩的那一颗钮扣.

辞典例句

It was a very dubious - looking , nay a very dark and dismal night, bitingly cold and cheerless.

这是一个非常朦胧的 、 且非常黑暗而阴沉的夜晚, 天气冷彻肌肤,了无生趣.

辞典例句

Deng was no student of the dismal science.

邓小平是没有学生的沉闷的科学.

期刊摘选

That dismal performance risks ruining all the hard work Ancelotti has put into this campaign.

那次悲惨的演出已经毁掉了安切洛蒂整个赛季的辛勤劳动.

期刊摘选

He felt dismal after reading a piece of bad news in the newspaper.

他读了报上的一条不好的消息后心情忧郁.

《现代英汉综合大词典》