dismal

DIZ-muhl, adjective

Gloomy and depressing; disgracefully bad.

“The team’s dismal first half emptied half the stadium.”

Where dismal comes from

From the Latin for evil days, the unlucky ones marked on medieval calendars.

Difficulty: intermediate. One of 440 entries written and checked by hand.

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tenacious Holding firmly to a goal or position; persistent and not easily discouraged.
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benevolent Kind and generous, wishing to do good for others.