Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BLACK, a. [Sax. blac, and blæc, black, pale, wan, livid; blacian, blæcan, to become pale, to turn white, to become black, to blacken; blæc, ink; Sw. blek, pale, wan, livid; bleck, ink; bleka, to insolate, to expose to the sun, or to bleach; also to lighten, to flash; D. bleek, pale; bleeken, to bleach; G. bleich, pale, wan, bleak; bleichen, to bleach; Dan. blæk, ink; bleeg, pale, wan, bleak, sallow; bleeger, to bleach. It is remarkable that black, bleak and bleach, are all radically one word. The primary sense seems to be, pale, wan or sallow, from which has proceeded the present variety of significations.]

1. Of the color of night; destitute of light; dark.
2. Darkened by clouds; as, the heavens black with clouds.
3. Sullen; having a cloudy look or countenance. – Shak.
4. Atrociously wicked; horrible; as, a black deed or crime. – Dryden.
5. Dismal; mournful; calamitous. – Shak. Black and blue, the dark color of a bruise in the flesh, which is accompanied with a mixture of blue.