Etymology Map
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Dismal

3 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means depressing; dreary

Where does the word "dismal" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin dies mali, passing through Anglo-French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
dies mali
Medieval Latin · medieval
"evil days"
two days each month marked unlucky in medieval calendars
2
Stage 2 of 3
dis mal
Anglo-French · medieval
"unlucky days"
the 'Egyptian days' of misfortune
3
Stage 3 of 3
dismal
English · 1200s
"unlucky days"
the sense 'gloomy' dates from the 1500s
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Read the full story

Dismal’s story begins in Medieval Latin: dies mali meant “evil days.” Two days each month marked unlucky in medieval calendars. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Anglo-French as dis mal. The 'Egyptian days' of misfortune. It reached English by 1200s as dismal. The sense 'gloomy' dates from the 1500s. Today, dismal means depressing; dreary.