dis|may

dis|may «dihs MAY», noun, verb.

–n.

loss of courage because of dislike or fear of what is about to happen or has happened: »

And each In other's countenance read his own dismay (Milton).

╂[< verb]

–v.t.

to trouble greatly; make afraid; paralyze with fear or hopelessness: »

The thought that she might fail the arithmetic test dismayed her.

╂[Middle English desmayen, perhaps < unrecorded Anglo-French desmaier < Vulgar Latin dismagāre deprive of strength, for exmagāre < ex- away, out + Germanic (compare Old High German magan have strength)]

Synonym Study noun.Dismay, consternation mean a feeling of being unnerved or overwhelmed by the thought of what is going to happen next. Dismay suggests loss of ability to face or handle something frightening, baffling, or upsetting: »

The mother was filled with dismay when her son confessed he had robbed a store.

Dismay is often used in a weakend sense: »

To my dismay, my son gave up literature for mathematics.

Consternation suggests dismay and dread so sudden or great that a person cannot think clearly or, sometimes, move: »

To our consternation the child darted out in front of the speeding car.