dismay

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”). See also Portuguese esmagar, Spanish amagar. More at main, may.

• IPA^(key): /dɪsˈmeɪ/

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• Rhymes: -eɪ

dismay (third-person singular simple present dismays, present participle dismaying, simple past and past participle dismayed)

1. To disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or courage of; to deprive of firmness and energy through fear; to daunt; to appall; to terrify.
   • 1611, King James Version, Josh. i. 9

     Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.

   • (Can we date this quote by Fairfax?)

     What words be these? What fears do you dismay?

2. To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet.
   • (Can we date this quote by Spenser?)

     Do not dismay yourself for this.

3. To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay.
   • 1592, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 1, III. iii. 1:

     Dismay not, princes, at this accident,

dismay (uncountable)

1. A sudden or complete loss of courage and firmness in the face of trouble or danger; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits

   Synonym: consternation

   • 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act I Scene 3

     Come on: in this there can be no dismay;

     My ships come home a month before the day.

   He looked in dismay at the destruction of the town caused by the hurricane.

2. Condition fitted to dismay; ruin.

• yidams