资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Bleak \Bleak\, a. [OE. blac, bleyke, bleche, AS. bl[=a]c, bl?c,
   pale, wan; akin to Icel. bleikr, Sw. blek, Dan. bleg, OS.
   bl?k, D. bleek, OHG. pleih, G. bleich; all from the root of
   AS. bl[=i]can to shine; akin to OHG. bl[=i]chen to shine; cf.
   L. flagrare to burn, Gr. ? to burn, shine, Skr. bhr[=a]j to
   shine, and E. flame. ?98. Cf. {Bleach}, {Blink}, {Flame}.]
   1. Without color; pale; pallid. [Obs.]

            When she came out she looked as pale and as bleak as
            one that were laid out dead.          --Foxe.

   2. Desolate and exposed; swept by cold winds.

            Wastes too bleak to rear The common growth of earth,
            the foodful ear.                      --Wordsworth.

            At daybreak, on the bleak sea beach.  --Longfellow.

   3. Cold and cutting; cheerless; as, a bleak blast. --
      {Bleak"ish}, a. -- {Bleak"ly}, adv. -- {Bleak"ness}, n.

资料来源 : WordNet®

bleakness
     n : a bleak and desolate atmosphere [syn: {desolation}]