dismay

Definitions

1. 1.What words be these What fears do you dismay Fairfax.
2. 2.To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet. [Obs.] Do not dismay yourself for this. Spenser. -- To Dismay, Daunt, Appall. Dismay denotes a state of deep and gloomy apprehension. To daunt supposes something more sudden and startling. To appall is the strongest term, implying a sense of terror which overwhelms the faculties. So flies a herd of beeves, that hear, dismayed, The lions roaring through the midnight shade. Pope. Jove got such heroes as my sire, whose soul No fear could daunt, nor earth nor hell control. Pope. Now the last ruin the whole host appalls; Now Greece has trembled in her wooden walls. Pope.
3. 3.To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay. [Obs.] Shak.
4. 4.Loss of courage and firmness through fear; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation. I . . . can not think of such a battle without dismay. Macaulay. Thou with a tiger spring dost leap upon thy prey, And tear his helpless breast, o'erwhelmed with wild dismay. Mrs. Barbauld.
5. 5.Condition fitted to dismay; ruin. Spenser.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "dismay" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is dismay.

• What is what words be these What fears do you dismay Fairfax called?
• What is to take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay. [Obs.] Shak called?
• What is condition fitted to dismay; ruin. Spenser called?