\Dis*may"\, 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.
         Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. --Josh. i.
                                               9.
         What words be these? What fears do you dismay?
                                               --Fairfax.
2. To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet. [Obs.]
         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.
           So flies a herd of beeves, that hear, dismayed,
           The lions roaring through the midnight shade.
                                               --Pope.
           Jove got such heroes as my sire, whose soul No
           fear could daunt, nor earth nor hell control.
                                               --Pope.
           Now the last ruin the whole host appalls; Now
           Greece has trembled in her wooden walls. --Pope.

\Dis*may"\, v. i.
To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay. [Obs.]
--Shak.

\Dis*may"\, n. [Cf. OF. esmai, F. ['e]moi. See {Dismay},
v. t.]
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.                               --Macaulay.
         Thou with a tiger spring dost leap upon thy prey,
         And tear his helpless breast, o'erwhelmed with wild
         dismay.                               --Mrs.
                                               Barbauld.
2. Condition fitted to dismay; ruin. --Spenser.
Syn: Dejection; discouragement; depression; fear; fright;
     terror; apprehension; alarm; affright.