Consternated

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Filled with anxiety, confusion, or dismay that causes one to feel shocked and uncertain about how to respond
2. Overcome with feelings of surprise and worry that leads to a state of disorientation and distress in uncertain situations
3. Experiencing a profound sense of alarm and confusion that can make an individual feel paralyzed or unsure of their next steps

Etymology: "Consternated" is the past form of "consternate," which comes from Latin "consternare," meaning "to throw into confusion" or "to dismay." The Latin verb combined "com-," an intensifying prefix, with "sternere," "to strew or spread out," the same root that gave English "prostrate" and "stratum." The literal picture is of something scattered or knocked flat, and the emotional sense grew from that image of a crowd or mind thrown into disorder. For English speakers, the notable point is how far the word has moved from its physical origin. Its earliest uses were tied to actual disturbance, such as a crowd stampeding, and the figurative sense of mental upset developed later as the word came to describe people rather than things. Today the word is almost always used in its emotional sense, and its verb form is considerably less common than its adjectival "consternation," which has the same root.

Synonyms: alarmed, dismayed, distressed

Antonyms: calm, unworried, reassured