1 : shining with an unnatural red glow as of fire seen through smoke; "a lurid sunset"; "lurid flames"
2 : (of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble; "the pale light of a half moon"; "a pale sun"; "the late afternoon light coming through the el tracks fell in pale oblongs on the street"; "a pallid sky"; "the pale (or wan) stars"; "the wan light of dawn"