consternate

American  

[kon-ster-neyt] / ˈkɒn stərˌneɪt /

verb (used with object)

consternated, consternating

1. to dismay, confuse, or terrify.

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consternate British  

/ ˈkɒnstəˌneɪt /

verb

1. (tr; usually passive) to fill with anxiety, dismay, dread, or confusion

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Other Word Forms

• unconsternated adjective

Etymology

Origin of consternate

1645–55; < Latin consternātus, past participle of consternāre to unsettle, throw into confusion, perhaps intensive derivative of consternere to cover, spread (with) ( con- con- + sternere to strew; stratum ), though sense development uncertain