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consternation

noun/ˌkɑnstərˈneɪʃən/

feelings of anxiety or dismay, often at something unexpected

Her sudden resignation caused consternation among her colleagues, who were not expecting such a drastic decision.

dismayanxietyalarm
word origin — from Latin 'consternatio', meaning 'a throwing down, a disturbing' from 'consternare' which means 'to throw down, to confuse'.

TOEFL Vocabulary — Set 113

Set 113 of TOEFL Vocabulary covers 5 words: consternation, brilliance, pathology, reproach, flood. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. consternation · noun/ˌkɑnstərˈneɪʃən/

    feelings of anxiety or dismay, often at something unexpected

    Her sudden resignation caused consternation among her colleagues, who were not expecting such a drastic decision.

    Synonyms: dismay, anxiety, alarm

    Origin: from Latin 'consternatio', meaning 'a throwing down, a disturbing' from 'consternare' which means 'to throw down, to confuse'.

  2. brilliance · noun/ˈbrɪljəns/

    exceptional brightness or intensity of light or intellect

    The brilliance of the sunset took our breath away with its vibrant colors spreading across the sky.

    Synonyms: radiance, brightness, intelligence

    Origin: from Latin 'brilliantia' meaning 'brightness, splendor' derived from 'brillare' meaning 'to shine'

  3. pathology · noun/pəˈθɑːlədʒi/

    the study of the nature of diseases and the changes they cause in body tissues and organs

    The researchers conducted a thorough examination of the pathology of the disease to better understand its effects on the body.

    Synonyms: disease study, pathology, pathobiology

    Origin: from the Greek 'pathologia', which combines 'pathos' meaning 'suffering' and 'logia' meaning 'study' or 'discourse'.

  4. reproach · verb/rɪˈproʊtʃ/

    to express disapproval or disappointment towards someone

    She decided to reproach him for his careless mistakes during the presentation.

    Synonyms: rebuke, scold, chastise

    Origin: Middle English, from Old French 'reprochier', based on Latin 'reprochare', meaning 'to cast back' or 'to bring back.'

  5. flood · noun/flʌd/

    an overflow of water onto land that is normally dry

    The heavy rains caused a sudden flood in the nearby town, leading to significant damage to homes.

    Synonyms: deluge, inundation, torrent

    Origin: Old English 'flōd', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'vloed' and German 'Flut'.