bleakness


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bleak 1

 (blēk)
adj. bleak·er, bleak·est
1.
a. Gloomy and somber: "Life in the Aran Islands has always been bleak and difficult" (John Millington Synge).
b. Providing no encouragement; depressing: a bleak prospect.
2. Cold and cutting; raw: bleak winds of the North Atlantic.
3. Exposed to the elements; unsheltered and barren: the bleak, treeless regions of the high Andes.
[Middle English bleik, pale, from Old Norse bleikr, white; see bhel- in Indo-European roots.]
bleak′ly adv.
bleak′ness n.

bleak 2

 (blēk)
n. pl. bleak or bleaks
Any of various small European freshwater fishes of the genus Alburnus, having silvery scales.
[Middle English bleke, probably alteration (influenced by bleke, pale) of *blay, from Old English blǣge.]
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.bleakness - a bleak and desolate atmospherebleakness - a bleak and desolate atmosphere; "the nakedness of the landscape"
bareness, desolation, nakedness
gloominess, glumness, gloom - an atmosphere of depression and melancholy; "gloom pervaded the office"
Translations

bleakness

[ˈbliːknɪs] N [of landscape] → desolación f; [of room, furnishings] → lo lúgubre; [of weather] → crudeza f, desapacibilidad f; [of prospects, future] → lo sombrío

bleakness

n
(of landscape) → Öde f, → Trostlosigkeit f
(of weather) → Rauheit f, → Kälte f
(fig) → Trostlosigkeit f; (of prospects also) → Trübheit f

bleakness

[ˈbliːknɪs] n (of landscape, future) → desolazione f; (of room, furnishings) → austerità; (of weather) → rigidità; (of smile) → tristezza
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References in classic literature ?
As the sky grew less gloomy; indeed, began to grow a little genial, he became still less and less a recluse; as if, when the ship had sailed from home, nothing but the dead wintry bleakness of the sea had then kept him so secluded.
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In the winter bleakness a hunger for colour came over people, like the Laplander's craving for fats and sugar.
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It was one of those rare afternoons when all the thickness and shadow of London are changed to a kind of shining, pulsing, special atmosphere; when the smoky vapors become fluttering golden clouds, nacreous veils of pink and amber; when all that bleakness of gray stone and dullness of dirty brick trembles in aureate light, and all the roofs and spires, and one great dome, are floated in golden haze.
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In the cold bleakness of night, it would seem he sat on a bare hill and raised his howl to the stars, while out of the dark, from far away, would drift to him an answering howl.
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The scurrying clouds, the open bleakness, the rushing wind, and the clear bright air thrill one with vague energies and hopes.
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A bleakness came into his eyes, and the lines of his mouth grew severe and harsh.
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Yet I did not heed the bleakness of the weather; I was better fitted by my conformation for the endurance of cold than heat.
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She attended all her dances and all her picnics over again; went through her school days, recalling the face and name and seat of every schoolmate; endured the gray bleakness of the years in the orphan asylum; revisioned every memory of her mother, every tale; and relived all her life with Billy.
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Night was setting in, and its bleakness was enhanced by the contrast of the pictured fire glowing and gleaming in the window- pane.
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rich enough to make the Canadian in his wagon, the itinerant with his consul's paper which commends him "To the charitable," the swarthy Italian with his few broken words of English, the lame pauper hunted by overseers from town to town, even the poor insane or besotted wreck of man or woman, feel the noble exception of your presence and your house from the general bleakness and stoniness; to make such feel that they were greeted with a voice which made them both remember and hope?
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She effortlessly plays bleakness and warmth off against each other to create a life-affirming tale of what it means to be human.
Once Upon A River; bookclub WITH HEATHER SUTTIE Do you have a book review or would you like me to review a book you've enjoyed? Please get in touch at DRBOOKCLUB@dailyrecord.co.uk or tweet @blondi_SOS
(I'm glad I went up before she did.) Director Jenny Jamora: "I think the playwright (Macmillan) wanted to talk about these issues in a comedic way, because he doesn't find bleakness or sentimentality helpful.
Talking Cure

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