consternation

From French consternation, from Latin consternātiō.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌkɒn.stəˈneɪ.ʃən/
• (US) enPR: ʹkŏn.stər'nā.shən, IPA^(key): /ˌkɑn.stɚˈne͡ɪ.ʃən/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

consternation (countable and uncountable, plural consternations)

1. Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; terror, combined with amazement; dismay.
   • (Can we date this quote?), Chuck Klosterman:

     It was probably worth four millennia of consternation and regret.

   • (Can we date this quote?), The Awakening, Kate Chopin:

     "Out!" exclaimed her husband, with something like genuine consternation in his voice.

   • 2003, Terrance Dicks & Barry Letts, Deadly Reunion, chapter 17:

     Their audience had been listening in increasing consternation.

Borrowed from Latin consternātiō. Morphologically, from consterner +‎ -ation.

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃s.tɛʁ.na.sjɔ̃/

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consternation f (plural consternations)

1. consternation

• “consternation” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).