The Collaborative International Dictionary
Bleak \Bleak\ (bl[=e]k), a. [OE. blac, bleyke, bleche, AS. bl[=a]c, bl[=ae]c, pale, wan; akin to Icel. bleikr, Sw. blek, Dan. bleg, OS. bl[=e]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. fle`gein to burn, shine, Skr. bhr[=a]j to shine, and E. flame. [root]98. Cf. Bleach, Blink, Flame.]
-
Without color; pale; pallid. [Obs.]
When she came out she looked as pale and as bleak as one that were laid out dead.
--Foxe. -
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. Cold and cutting; cheerless; as, a bleak blast. [1913 Webster] -- Bleak"ish, a. -- Bleak"ly, adv. -- Bleak"ness, n.
Wiktionary
a. Somewhat bleak.