consternation

From French consternation, from Latin consternātiō.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌkɒn.stəˈneɪ.ʃən/
• (US) enPR: kŏnʹstər.nā'shən, IPA^(key): /ˌkɑn.stɚˈneɪ.ʃən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

consternation (countable and uncountable, plural consternations)

1. Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; terror, combined with amazement; dismay.
   • 1899, Kate Chopin, The Awakening:

     "Out!" exclaimed her husband, with something like genuine consternation in his voice.

   • 2003, Terrance Dicks, Barry Letts, chapter 17, in Deadly Reunion:

     Their audience had been listening in increasing consternation.

   • February 27, 2006, Chuck Klosterman, “Invention's New Mother”, in Esquire‎:

     It was probably worth four millennia of consternation and regret.

• consternate

Borrowed from Latin cōnsternātiōnem. Morphologically, from consterner +‎ -ation.

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃s.tɛʁ.na.sjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

consternation f (plural consternations)

1. consternation
   • 1957, Thomas Baudouin, Iñés, Nouvelles Éditions Latines, page 4:

     Un soir pluvieux, Corinne laissa entendre qu’elle était amoureuse. J’allais m’en montrer consterné mais je craignis que ma consternation ne prêtât à confusion et ne fût mal interprétée : il ne fallait pas qu’elle m’imaginât épris d’elle.

     One rainy day, Corinne hinted that she was in love. I was about to show dismay about it, but I feared that my dismay would lead to confusion and be misinterpreted. She should not imagine me in love with her.

• English: consternation

• “consternation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.