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dismaying

[dis-mey] Origin

dis·may

[dis-mey]
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.

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Dismaying is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English desmay (noun), de(s)mayen, dismayen (v.) < presumed AF alteration, by prefix change, of Old French esmaier to trouble, frighten < Vulgar Latin *exmagāre to disable, deprive of strength, equivalent to ex- ex- + *magāre < Germanic *magan to be able to; see may1

dis·mayed·ness [dis-meyd-nis, -mey-id-] , noun
dis·may·ing·ly, adverb
un·dis·mayed, adjective


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


1. hearten. 4. confidence.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
dismay (dɪsˈmeɪ)
 
vb
1.  to fill with apprehension or alarm
2.  to fill with depression or discouragement
 
n
3.  consternation or agitation
 
[C13: from Old French desmaiier (unattested), from des-dis-1 + esmayer to frighten, ultimately of Germanic origin; see may1]
 
dis'maying
 
adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

dismay
c.1300, 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.)). Related: Dismayed.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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