dismay
UK[dɪsˈmeɪ]US[dɪsˈmeɪ]
n
A feeling of unhappiness and disappointment.
v
To make someone feel unhappy and disappointed.
Morpheme Breakdown
dis
may
dis
negative
may
power
Etymology
The word 'dismay' entered English in the late 13th century from the Anglo-French desmaier, meaning 'to disable' or 'to deprive of strength'. It is built from the Latin prefix dis-, which negates or reverses, and a root element related to power or ability, as seen in the Old French maier. The literal sense was 'to deprive of power or strength'. Over time, this concrete meaning of disabling evolved into the abstract psychological state of being deprived of courage or confidence, leading to the modern sense of a sudden loss of resolve accompanied by alarm, anxiety, or disappointment.
Analysis
Structure: dis (negative) + may (power)
dis- (Latin origin, a prefix expressing negation, reversal, or removal); may (from Old French maier 'to disable', from Latin māiāre 'to lessen, diminish', of uncertain further origin, but here representing the concept of power or ability).
Examples
She looked at the exam results with dismay.
The news of the accident dismayed the entire community.
To his dismay, he realized he had left his passport at home.