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.
Originconsternation
(1600-1700)FrenchLatin, from consternare“to frighten”, from consternere“to scatter, throw down”, from com- ( → COM-) + sternere“to spread out”