pall
|pall|
🇺🇸
/pɔl/
🇬🇧
/pɔːl/
a covering; loss of interest
Etymology
'pall' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'pallium', where 'pallium' meant 'cloak'.
'pall' changed from Latin 'pallium' into Old French/Anglo-Norman forms (such as 'pal'/'palle') and Middle English 'pal'/'palle', and eventually became the modern English word 'pall'.
Initially, it meant 'cloak' (a garment for covering), but over time it specialized to mean 'a cloth spread over a coffin' and figuratively 'a gloomy or depressing covering'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a cloth, often richly decorated, spread over a coffin, casket, or tomb.
The coffin was covered with a black pall.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
a figurative covering of gloom, darkness, or despair spread over a place or group of people (e.g. a pall of smoke).
A pall of smoke hung over the town after the fire.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 1
to become less appealing, interesting, or exciting; to lose strength or effectiveness (intransitive).
After repeated performances the play began to pall on the audience.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/09/14 22:41