verb (used with object), con·ster·nat·ed, con·ster·nat·ing. to dismay, confuse, or terrify.
Origin: 1645–55; <
Latin consternātus, past participle of
consternāre to unsettle, throw into confusion, perhaps intensive derivative of
consternere to cover, spread (with) (
con- con- +
sternere to
strew; cf.
stratum), though sense development uncertain
Related forms un·con·ster·nat·ed, adjective