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dismay - 6 dictionary results

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.
Cite This Source Link To dismay
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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Dismay

Dis*may"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dismaying.] [OE. desmaien, dismaien, OF. esmaier; pref. es- (L. ex) + OHG. magan to be strong or able; akin to E. may. In English the pref. es- was changed to dis- (L. dis-). See May, v. i.]

1. To disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or courage of; to deprive or firmness and energy through fear; to daunt; to appall; to terrify.

Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. --Josh. i. 9.

What words be these? What fears do you dismay? --Fairfax.

2. To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet. [Obs.]

Do not dismay yourself for this. --Spenser.

Syn: To terrify; fright; affright; frighten; appall; daunt; dishearthen; dispirit; discourage; deject; depress. -- To Dismay, Daunt, Appall. Dismay denotes a state of deep and gloomy apprehension. To daunt supposes something more sudden and startling. To appall is the strongest term, implying a sense of terror which overwhelms the faculties.

So flies a herd of beeves, that hear, dismayed, The lions roaring through the midnight shade. --Pope.

Jove got such heroes as my sire, whose soul No fear could daunt, nor earth nor hell control. --Pope.

Now the last ruin the whole host appalls; Now Greece has trembled in her wooden walls. --Pope.

Dismay

Dis*may"\, v. i. To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay. [Obs.] --Shak.

Dismay

Dis*may"\, n. [Cf. OF. esmai, F. ['e]moi. See Dismay, v. t.]

1. Loss of courage and firmness through fear; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation.

I . . . can not think of such a battle without dismay. --Macaulay.

Thou with a tiger spring dost leap upon thy prey, And tear his helpless breast, o'erwhelmed with wild dismay. --Mrs. Barbauld.

2. Condition fitted to dismay; ruin. --Spenser.

Syn: Dejection; discouragement; depression; fear; fright; terror; apprehension; alarm; affright.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : dismay
Spanish: consternar,
German: bestürzen,
Japanese: ろうばいさせる
More Translations »

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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