dismay Hear it!

dismay Definition

dis·may (dis mā′)

transitive verb

to make afraid or discouraged at the prospect of trouble or danger; fill with apprehension or alarm; daunt

Etymology: ME dismayen < Anglo-Fr *desmaier < des-, intens. + OFr esmayer, to deprive of power < VL *exmagare < L ex-, from + Gmc base *mag, power: see main

noun

a loss of courage or confidence at the prospect of trouble or danger; consternation
dismay Synonyms

dismay

n.

alarm, consternation, anxiety, disheartenment; see confusion 2, fear 2.

dismay Synonyms

dismay

v.

appall, horrify, daunt, frighten, terrify, petrify, unnerve, abash, disconcert, dishearten; see also confuse, discourage 1, frighten 1.

dismay suggests fear or, esp. in modern usage, discouragement at the prospect of some difficulty or problem which one does not quite know how to resolve dismayed at his lack of understanding; appall suggests terror or (now more commonly) consternation at a shocking but apparently unalterable situation an appalling death rate; horrify suggests horror or loathing (or, in a weakened sense, irritation) at that which shocks or offends one horrified at the suggestion; daunt implies a becoming disheartened in the performance of an act that requires some courage never daunted by adversity

dismay Usage Examples

Subject

  • lack: Pupil Lauren Hendy said she was dismayed by the lack of passion from the school.

Object

  • bit: As I have been unwell as long as I can remember, I was a little bit dismayed by this.

Converse of object

  • express: They expressed dismay over the emphasis placed on making loans.
  • cause: The US vote caused deep dismay, not least among its allies.
  • voice: In Brussels, Poul Nielson, the European Union commissioner for development, voiced dismay at the text.

Preposition: at

  • prospect: Two Trojan sentries, who have taken a liking to life in Carthage, are dismayed at the prospect of leaving.
  • lack: It is easy to be dismayed at the apparent lack of product at the end of an hour's session.

Adjective modifier

  • utter: Then, to our utter dismay, we watched Mr Clamp light the petrol-soaked hay with a burning brand!
  • widespread: There would be widespread dismay were the legislation not to feature in the next Queen's speech.
  • least: The man - it is Guy Fawkes - showeth not the least dismay.
  • deep: The US vote caused deep dismay, not least among its allies.

Modifying Another Word

  • utterly: Of those who had known me as an innocent child some were utterly dismayed.
  • somewhat: After unpacking it and getting to work I was somewhat dismayed at have a wizard sort everything for me.

Used with why or when

  • when: So why be dismayed when things do not happen as you wish and desire?

Infinitive complement

  • discover: On her return the following day Mrs OB was dismayed to discover what had happened.
  • hear: Pat's dismayed to hear that Ruby's returning to boarding school.
  • find: Arriving at Heathrow on time, she was dismayed to find her flight had been canceled due to bad weather in Istanbul.
  • learn: However, on telephoning him, I was dismayed to learn that he no longer had the specimen.
  • see: They already are - many women are dismayed to see how poor medicine is.

Preposition: by

  • lack: Pupil Lauren Hendy said she was dismayed by the lack of passion from the school.
dismay Quotes

   Hobbits are an unobtrusive but veryancient people, more numerous formerly than theyare today; for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth: a well- ordered and well-farmed countryside was their favourite haunt† Even in ancient days they were, as a rule, shy of 'the Big Folk', as they call us, and now they avoid us with dismay and are becoming hard to find.

—Tolkien,J(ohn) R(onald) R(euel)

Father in Heaven, whenthethoughtof Thee wakesinour hearts, let it not awaken like a frightened bird that flies about in dismay, but like a child waking from its sleep with a heavenly smile.

—Kierkegaard, So«  ren Aabye