consternate

UK: /ˈkɒnstəˌneɪt/ US: (kon′stər nāt′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•ster•nate  (kon′stər nāt′), v.t., -nat•ed, -nat•ing. 

1. to dismay, confuse, or terrify.

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

consternate / ˈkɒnstəˌneɪt/ verb

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

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin consternāre, from sternere to lay low, spread out