consternation
Word family verbconsternatenounconsternation
con·ster·na·tion /ˌkɒnstəˈneɪʃən $ ˌkɑːnstər-/ noun [uncountableU] SHOCKa feeling of worry, shock, or fear 惊愕;震惊;惊惶失措 SYN alarm The government’s plans have caused considerable consternation among many Americans. 政府的计划在许多美国人中间引起了相当大的恐慌。
A new power station is being built much to the consternation of environmental groups (=they are very worried about it). 一座新的发电厂正在建造中,这使环境保护团体大为震惊。
in consternation He looked at her in consternation. 他惊恐地看着她。
much to the consternation of• There Taylor played after work, on holidays-and on Sundays, at first much to the consternation of the neighborhood.• You could be spending a lot of time in serious thought, much to the consternation of those around you. Origin consternation (1600-1700) French Latin, from consternare “to frighten”, from consternere “to scatter, throw down”, from com- ( → COM-) + sternere “to spread out”