Ashen
/ˈæʃən/noun
Pale gray, like ash; also showing the color or appearance of ash.
Did you know?Ashen comes from the same ancient root as ash, and its color sense grew from the residue of something destroyed, making it one of English’s quietest words for aftermath.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁eks-
“to ask, seek”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*askaz
“ash tree; ash”
Old English
English
æsċen
“made of ash; ash-colored”
Middle English
English
aschen
“of or like ash”
Modern English
English
ashen
“pale gray, resembling ash”