adjective

ashen

ashen, pale, grey

His face was ashen with fear.

His face was ashen with fear.

The ashen sky warned of a storm.

The ashen sky warned of a storm.

((ashen)) + [noun] used to describe a pale or grey colour His face was ashen with fear.

Synonyms: pale, wan, pallid; Antonyms: rosy, ruddy

From Old English 'æscen' meaning 'made of ash wood', related to 'ash' (the tree and the residue of fire).

Think of the colour of 'ash' from a fire. A face that is 'ashen' is pale like ash.

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