what does pale mean?

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The pale is the limits of a consecrated graveyard. Being beyond the pale means that the body was buried outside of the formal area of the graveyard.

Years ago, one had to be approved by religious authorities to be buried in a consecrated graveyard. This was very important to people, and being buried beyond the pale (outside the graveyard) was the worst thing that could ever happen to them.

It used to be common to bury blacks, homosexuals, gypsies, criminals, and others that were not accepted by good society beyond the pale.

People that were excommunicated were also buried beyond the pale. This gave the priests great power, in that they could deliver a sentence worse than death by excommunicating someone they did not like.

The meaning of the phrase has evolved over time, and today it means something that is really horrible and not accepted by normal society, as in "Spitting in your sister's face is just beyond the pale!"...Show more

Define Beyond The Pale...Show more

His pallor is just due to the illness - Croup is awful and frightening. I hope that you have humidifiers and in case the coughing gets very bad take him in the bathroom and run the shower. The steam will help him breathe - If you live in a suburban or rural area taking him outside for a minute will help as well. If the cough does not stop after a few minutes - during each bout - then you need to take him back to the doctor. Good Luck....Show more

not acceptable ( or) outside the bounds of acceptable behavior (also)
absolutely unacceptable, outside the limits of integrity and morality, beyond the bounds of good taste, beyond standards of decency
check this site
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/beyond+the+pale
hope i helped

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It means an action that is regarded as outside the limits of acceptable behavior, which is unacceptable or improper....Show more