Paleness
/ˈpeɪl.nəs/noun
The quality or state of being pale or lacking normal color.
Did you know?Pale and its relatives ultimately come from the same ancient root behind Latin palus and Greek phalos, a family tied to dullness and fading rather than any magical curse, though the visual effect has always felt uncanny.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to be pale, gray, or dull-colored”
Classical Latin
Latin
pallidus
“pale, wan, bloodless”
Late Latin
Latin
pallēre
“to be pale or to grow pale”
Old French
Old French
pale
“pale, wan”
Middle English
English
pale
“pale, lacking color”
Modern English
English
paleness
“the state of being pale”