First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1pall
verb \ˈpȯl\
Definition of PALL
intransitive verb
1
: to lose strength or effectiveness
2
: to lose in interest or attraction <his humor began to pall on us>
3
: dwindle <our enthusiasm soon palled>
transitive verb
1
: to cause to become insipid
2
: to deprive of pleasure in something by satiating
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Origin of PALL
Middle English, short for appallen to become pale — more at appall
Synonym Discussion of PALL
satiate, sate, surfeit, cloy, pall, glut, gorge mean to fill to repletion. satiate and sate may sometimes imply only complete satisfaction but more often suggest repletion that has destroyed interest or desire <years of globe-trotting had satiated their interest in travel> <readers were sated with sensationalistic stories>. surfeit implies a nauseating repletion <surfeited themselves with junk food>. cloy stresses the disgust or boredom resulting from such surfeiting <sentimental pictures that cloy after a while>. pall emphasizes the loss of ability to stimulate interest or appetite <a life of leisure eventually begins to pall>. glut implies excess in feeding or supplying <a market glutted with diet books>. gorge suggests glutting to the point of bursting or choking <gorged themselves with chocolate>.
2pall
noun
: something (such as a cloud of smoke) that covers a place and makes it dark
: a heavy cloth that is used for covering a coffin, hearse, or tomb
Full Definition of PALL
1
: pallium 1a
2
a : a square of linen usually stiffened with cardboard that is used to cover the chalice b (1) : a heavy cloth draped over a coffin (2) : a coffin especially when holding a body
3
a : something that covers or conceals; especially : an overspreading element that produces an effect of gloom <a pall of thick black smoke> <a pall of suspicion> b : a feeling of gloom <his absence cast a pall over the celebration>
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See pall defined for kids
Origin of PALL
Middle English, cloak, mantle, from Old English pæll, from Latin pallium
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to PALL
- Synonyms
- bier, box, casket, coffin, sarcophagus
Other Clothing Terms
3pall
verb
Definition of PALL
transitive verb
: to cover with a pall : drape
First Known Use of PALL
15th century
PALL[1] Defined for Kids
1pall
verb \ˈpȯl\
palledpall·ing
Definition of PALL for Kids
: to become dull
2pall
noun
Definition of PALL for Kids
1
: a heavy cloth covering for a coffin, hearse, or tomb
2
: something that makes things gloomy or depressing <The news put a pall on the celebration.>
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