dismays - Meaning, Image, Examples & Etymology - Learn English Visually

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dismays

|dis-mays|

/dɪsˈmeɪz/

(dismay)

distress or anxiety

Base Form	Plural	3rd Person Sing.	Past	Past Participle	Present Participle	Adjective	Adjective
dismay	dismays	dismays	dismayed	dismayed	dismaying	dismaying	dismayed

Etymology

Etymology Information

'dismay' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'esmaier' or 'desmaier', where the prefix 'es-/des-' expressed reversal or intensive force and the root meant 'to astonish, stupefy'.

Historical Evolution

'dismay' changed from Old French 'esmaier/desmaier' into Middle English 'dismayen' and eventually became the modern English word 'dismay'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'to make faint, to stupefy or bewilder', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to cause alarm, distress, or loss of courage'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a feeling of shock and disappointment; strong distress or consternation. (Plural: dismays — multiple causes or instances of such feeling.)

Her repeated failures became among her greatest dismays.

Synonyms

consternation disappointment distress alarm

Antonyms

comfort relief joy satisfaction

Verb 1

to cause someone to feel consternation, distress, or loss of courage; to alarm or strongly discourage.

His reckless decisions dismays his colleagues.

Synonyms