dismayingly
|dis/may/ing/ly|
C1
/dɪsˈmeɪɪŋli/
(dismay)
distress or anxiety
Etymology
Etymology Information
'dismay' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'desmaier,' where 'des-' meant 'away' and 'maier' meant 'to frighten.'
Historical Evolution
'desmaier' transformed into the Middle English word 'dismaien,' and eventually became the modern English word 'dismay.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to frighten or alarm,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to cause distress or concern.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner that causes dismay or distress.
The news was dismayingly unexpected.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/23 03:11