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pale-faced

pale-faced

1 4.9
A person with a very pale face because of illness or fear
  • adjective
  • /peɪl feɪst/
translation icon : de rostro pálido
  • Above him, on the bank, stood Felix, tall, erect, and sober, glowingly pale-faced even in the summer night.
  • pale-faced man
  • pale-faced woman
  • thin, pale-faced

Examples

  • The thin, pale-faced woman had bent over and was peering at the lower right-hand corner of the painting, which was visible at belt height just beyond Klinger’s left hip.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • "Look at it!" the pale-faced woman cried.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • When I look in the mirror in my apartment, I see a pale-faced woman with brown eyes and thin hair the color of burnt toast.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • A pale-faced man with unfocused eyes stalked through the gate.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • She was a pale-faced brunette with large, lustrous brown eyes, who looked as if she hadn't had a good meal in several weeks.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • It was nearly a quarter of an hour before James and Helen Carfax came in, pale-faced and dressed in nightclothes and robes.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The pale-faced girl trembled as she recalled the frightening event.

  • After being ill for weeks, he appeared pale-faced and weak.

  • She looked pale-faced and worried when she heard the bad news.

Synonyms

ashen
vspale-faced
5 5.1

Pale gray in color because of shock or illness

describes a light facial color without the distinct gray tone
pallid
vspale-faced
3 7.5

Having a very pale face because of illness, shock, or deep worry

is the general unusually light face term covering similar causes
bloodless
vspale-faced
3 5.9

Being very pale and weak from illness or shock

is a pale face description without implying total color loss
as white as a ghost
vspale-faced
  • Informal
1 5.0

Very pale from fear, shock, or illness

is less extreme, meaning an unusually light face from illness or shock
dough-faced
vspale-faced
1 9.8

A pale, tired face that looks weak

is an unusually light face without the dull, worn-out quality
blanched
vspale-faced
6.8

Pale in the face because of fear, shock, or illness

describes an unusually light face that need not be suddenly caused
drawn
vspale-faced
4.9

A face that looks tired, pale, and worried

focuses on paleness without the added tired or tense appearance

Antonyms

695 1.0

In good body and mind condition without sickness or injury

2 2.8

Having pink cheeks that show good health

How Pale

ashen
5 5.1
pale-faced
1 4.9
wan
7.4

Surface Forms

pale-faced positive

Morphology

pale-faced = pale + face (transparent) = pale + face + ed

The form is a straightforward compound of 'pale' + 'face' with the adjectival '-ed' on 'face', yielding 'having a pale face', which is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word pale-faced is simply the two words pale ('light in colour') and face ('front of the head') put together, so it gives a clear picture of someone whose face has lost colour from illness, fear, or shock.