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Dismay

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dis⋅may

  [dis-mey]
Use Dismay in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt: The surprise attack dismayed the enemy.
2. to surprise in such a manner as to disillusion: She was dismayed to learn of their disloyalty.
3. to alarm; perturb: The new law dismayed some of the more conservative politicians.
–noun
4. sudden or complete loss of courage; utter disheartenment.
5. sudden disillusionment.
6. agitation of mind; perturbation; alarm.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME desmay (n.), de(s)mayen, dismayen (v.) < presumed AF alter., by prefix change, of OF esmaier to trouble, frighten < VL *exmagāre to disable, deprive of strength, equiv. to ex- ex- + *magāre < Gmc *magan to be able to; see may 1

Related forms:
dis⋅mayed⋅ness  [dis-meyd-nis, -mey-id-] , noun
dis⋅may⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. appall, terrify, frighten, scare, intimidate, disconcert. See discourage. 4. consternation, terror, panic, horror, fear.

Antonyms:
1. hearten. 4. confidence.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dis·may   (dĭs-mā')   
tr.v.   dis·mayed, dis·may·ing, dis·mays

  1. To destroy the courage or resolution of by exciting dread or apprehension.

  2. To cause to lose enthusiasm; disillusion: was dismayed to learn that her favorite dancer used drugs.

  3. To upset or alarm.

n.  A sudden or complete loss of courage in the face of trouble or danger.

[Middle English dismaien, from Anglo-Norman *desmaiier : probably de-, intensive pref.; see de- + Old French esmaier, to frighten (from Vulgar Latin *exmagāre, to deprive of power : Latin ex-, ex- + Germanic *magan, to be able to; see magh- in Indo-European roots).]
dis·may'ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to deprive a person of courage or the power to act as a result of fear or anxiety. Dismay is the least specific: Plummeting stock prices dismayed speculators.
Appall implies a sense of helplessness caused by an awareness of the enormity of something: "for as this appalling ocean surrounds the verdant land" (Herman Melville).
Daunt suggests an abatement of courage: "captains courageous, whom death could not daunt" (Anonymous ballad).
Horrify implies dread, shock, or revulsion: The citizens were horrified by the possibility of nuclear war.
To shake is to dismay profoundly: "A little swift brutality shook him to the very soul" (John Galsworthy). See Also Synonyms at fear.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

dismay 
1297, from O.Fr. *desmaier, from L. de- intensive prefix + O.Fr. esmaier "to trouble, disturb," from V.L. *exmagare "divest of power or ability," from P.Gmc. stem *mag- "power, ability" (cf. O.H.G. magen "to be powerful or able;" see may (v.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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