*smay*

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dismayed p. pr. & vb. n. Dismaying. ] [ OE. desmaien, dismaien, OF. esmaier; pref. es- (L. ex) + OHG. magan to be strong or able; akin to E. may. In English the pref. es- was changed to dis- (L. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. Josh. i. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

What words be these? What fears do you dismay? Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Do not dismay yourself for this. Spenser.

Syn. -- To terrify; fright; affright; frighten; appall; daunt; dishearthen; dispirit; discourage; deject; depress. -- 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

So flies a herd of beeves, that hear, dismayed,
The lions roaring through the midnight shade. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jove got such heroes as my sire, whose soul
No fear could daunt, nor earth nor hell control. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now the last ruin the whole host appalls;
Now Greece has trembled in her wooden walls. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. esmai, F. émoi. See Dismay, v. t. ] 1. Loss of courage and firmness through fear; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation. [ 1913 Webster ]

I . . . can not think of such a battle without dismay. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou with a tiger spring dost leap upon thy prey,
And tear his helpless breast, o'erwhelmed with wild dismay. Mrs. Barbauld. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Condition fitted to dismay; ruin. Spenser.

Syn. -- Dejection; discouragement; depression; fear; fright; terror; apprehension; alarm; affright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A state of being dismayed; dejection of courage; dispiritedness. [ 1913 Webster ]