aghast

Meaning

Terrified; struck with amazement; showing signs of terror or horror.

Synonyms

stunned

dazed

horrified

dumbfounded

appalled

terrified

dismayed

shocked

afraid

frightened

bewildered

stupefied

taken aback

upset

perplexed

scared shitless

affrighted

affeared

amazed

appals

astounded

flabbergasted

outraged

panicked

panicky

panic-stricken

panic-struck

puzzled

scary

speechless

terror-stricken

terror-struck

Translations

stupéfait

pasmado

espantado

ontdaan

paniqué

atónito

bestürzt

épouvanté

effaré

horroritzat

atterré

fassungslos

bestürtzt

consterné

effrayé

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈɡæst/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: agast

Inherited from Old English: a-

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌿𐍃-

Cognate with German: er-

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌿𐍃𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽

Cognate with Latin: haerere

In summary

From Middle English agast, agasted, past participle of agasten (“to terrify”), from Old English a- (compare with Gothic 𐌿𐍃- (us-), German er-, originally meaning "out") + gæstan (“to terrify, torment”): compare Gothic 𐌿𐍃𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (usgaisjan, “to terrify”, literally “to fix, to root to the spot with terror”); akin to Latin haerere (“to stick fast, cling”). By surface analysis, a- + ghast/gast. See gaze.