Meaning

noun the journalistic use of subject matter that appeals to vulgar tastes

noun unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)

noun the quality of being ghastly

originEtymology tree English lurid Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English luridness From lurid + -ness.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0