From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishashenash‧en /ˈæʃən/ adjective 1 CClooking very pale because you are ill, shocked, or frightened SYN white His face was ashen.2 literary pale grey in colour ashen hills
Examples from the Corpus
ashen• Lisa's face had turned ashen.• But Karen is just standing there, ashen.• Mr Lehman turned ashen and thin.• His eyes were closed, his face was an ashen colour, and there were beads of sweat on his forehead.• I saw a group walking towards me through the ashen darkness.• I dozed fitfully until morning, when I awake feeling knackered; my spouse looked worried and ashen in sympathy.• He could see his reflection, turned gaunt and ashen, in the fragment of mirror propped against the lavatory window. 