different between consternation vs cowardice

English

Etymology

From French consternation, from Latin constern?ti?.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?n.st??ne?.??n/
• (US) enPR: k?n?st?r.n?'sh?n, IPA^(key): /?k?n.st??ne??.??n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

consternation (countable and uncountable, plural consternations)

1. Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; terror, combined with amazement; dismay.
   • 1899, Kate Chopin, The Awakening

     "Out!" exclaimed her husband, with something like genuine consternation in his voice.

   • 2003, Terrance Dicks & Barry Letts, Deadly Reunion, chapter 17:

     Their audience had been listening in increasing consternation.

   • February 27, 2006, Chuck Klosterman in Esquire, Invention's New Mother

     It was probably worth four millennia of consternation and regret.

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin constern?ti?. Morphologically, from consterner +? -ation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??s.t??.na.sj??/

Noun

consternation f (plural consternations)

1. consternation

Further reading

• “consternation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From Middle English cowardise, from Anglo-Norman cuardise (modern French couardise).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: kou??rd?s, IPA^(key): /?ka??d?s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?ka??d?s/

Noun

cowardice (countable and uncountable, plural cowardices)

1. Lack of courage.

Synonyms

• cowardliness
• cowardness
• cowardship

Related terms

• coward
• cowardly

Translations