dismay是什么意思

n. 沮丧，灰心；惊慌

vt. 使沮丧；使惊慌

中文词源

dismay 灰心，丧气

dis-, 不，非，使相反。-may, 权力，力量，词源同may, might. 原指剥夺权力或者力量，引申义灰心，丧气。

dismay: dismay: [13] The underlying meaning of dismay is ‘deprive of power’ – its second syllable is ultimately the same word as the verb may. It comes via Old French desmaier from Vulgar Latin *dismagāre ‘deprive of power’, a compound verb formed from the prefix dis- ‘un-’ and the borrowed Germanic base *mag- ‘power, ability’ (source of English may).
=> may
dismay (v.): late 13c., dismaien, from Old French *desmaier (attested only in past participle dismaye), from Latin de- intensive prefix + Old French esmaier "to trouble, disturb," from Vulgar Latin *exmagare "divest of power or ability" (source of Italian smagare "to weaken, dismay, discourage"), from ex- (see ex-) + Germanic stem *mag- "power, ability" (cognates: Old High German magen "to be powerful or able;" see may (v.)). Spanish desmayer "to be dispirited" is a loan word from Old French. Related: Dismayed; dismaying.
dismay (n.): c. 1300, from dismay (v.).

1. might(力量) => may => dismay.2. dismal => dismay.

1. The ministers expressed dismay at the continued practice of ethnic cleansing.: 部长们表达了对持续进行的种族清洗的忧虑。

2. The European Court's decision has been greeted with dismay by fishermen.: 渔民对欧洲法庭的裁决感到失望。

4. Local councillors have reacted with dismay and indignation.: 地方政务委员的反应是惊恐和愤怒。