'dreary' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'drēorig', where 'drēor' meant 'gore' or 'blood', and '-ig' was a suffix meaning 'full of'.

'drēorig' transformed into the Middle English word 'dreary', and eventually became the modern English word 'dreary'.

Initially, it meant 'bloody' or 'gory', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'dull and depressing'.