Bleak (�), a. [OE. blac, bleyke, bleche, AS. blāc, 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. blīcan to shine; akin to OHG. blīchen to shine; cf. L. flagrare to burn, Gr. � to burn, shine, Skr. bhrāj to shine, and E. flame. �98. Cf. Bleach, Blink, Flame.] 1. Without color; pale; pallid.
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.