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dismay

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪsˈmeɪ// UK //dɪsmˈeɪ// dis·may

n. a strong feeling of being worried, disappointed, or upset because of something unexpected. You feel this when things go wrong and you do not know what to do.

n. a sudden or complete loss of courage or resolution in the face of unforeseen danger or trouble. Often describes a mixture of shock and distress.


SIMPLE

She looked at the broken window with dismay.

CONTEXTUAL

To the dismay of the local residents, the council decided to close the community library.

COMPLEX

The sudden collapse of the peace talks was met with widespread dismay by international observers who had spent months brokering the agreement.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

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.

Usage

Often used in the phrase 'to someone's dismay' to indicate their reaction to an event.

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