CONSTERNATION

[con.ster.na.tion] n [F or L; F, fr. L consternation-, consternatio, fr. consternare to throw into confusion, fr. com- + -sternare, prob. fr. sternere to spread, strike down--more at strew] (ca. 1611): amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion "the two ... stared at each other in ~, and neither knew what to do --Pearl Buck"