Dismay
Dismay , transitive verb
[Old English desmaien, dismaien, Old French esmaier; pref. es- (Latin ex) + Old High German magan to be strong or able; akin to English may. In English the pref. es- was changed to dis- (Latin dis-). See May, v. i.]
1.
To disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or courage of; to deprive or firmness and energy through fear; to daunt; to appall; to terrify.
Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.
What words be these? What fears do you dismay?
2.
To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet. [Obsolete]
Do not dismay yourself for this.
So flies a herd of beeves, that hear, dismayed,
The lions roaring through the midnight shade.
Jove got such heroes as my sire, whose soul
No fear could daunt, nor earth nor hell control.
Now the last ruin the whole host appalls;
Now Greece has trembled in her wooden walls.
Dismay , intransitive verb
To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay. [Obsolete] — Shakespeare
Dismay , noun
[Compare Old French esmai, French émoi. See Dismay, transitive verb]
1.
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.
Thou with a tiger spring dost leap upon thy prey,
And tear his helpless breast, o'erwhelmed with wild dismay.
2.
Condition fitted to dismay; ruin. — Spenser