bleak
1. bleak \'ble-k\ aj [ME bleke pale; prob. akin to OE bla-c] 1: exposed and barren and often windswept 2: COLD, RAW 3a: lacking in warmth or kindliness 3b: not likely to be favorably concluded 3c: severely simple - bleak.ly av 2. bleak n [ME bleke] : a small European cyprinid river fish (Alburnus lucidus) with silve ry scale pigment used in making artificial pearls