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Added 9 October 2026

dismay

/dɪsˈmeɪ/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dismay at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The feeling of despair in the face of obstacles.
Fear resulting from the awareness of danger.

verb

Lower someone's spirits; make downhearted.
These news depressed her
Fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised.
I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview

Origin

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

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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