Gray __ (4)
'gray' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ashen that I've seen before include "Very pale, with shock or fear" , "Grey-faced" , "Grey in colour" , "lacking in colour" , "Like bird" .)
(Other definitions for area that I've seen before include "'Tract, region (4)'" , "Geographical region" , "Surface measurement" , "Succession, order" , "Locality" .)