dismay

Meaning

1. To cause to feel apprehension; great sadness, or fear; to deprive of energy
2. To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet.
3. To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay.

alarm

consternation

discomfiture

advise against

fall into a panic

fluster oneself

heart-stricken

be sorry

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪsˈmeɪ/

From Middle English dismayen, from Anglo-Norman *desmaiier, alteration of Old French esmaier (“to frighten”), probably from Vulgar Latin *exmagare (“to deprive (someone) of strength, to disable”), from ex- + *magare (“to enable, empower”), from Proto-Germanic *maginą, *maganą (“might, power”), from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- (“to be able”). Akin to Old High German magan, megin (“power, might, main”), Old English mæġen (“might, main”), Old High German magan, mugan (“to be powerful, able”), Old English magan (“to be able”). Cognate with Portuguese desmaiar (“to faint”) and Spanish esmayar. See also Portuguese esmagar, Spanish amagar. More at main, may.