Etymology

Probably from Old Provençal esmaiar, from Vulgar Latin *exmagare ‎(“to deprive (someone) of strength, to disable”), from Latin ex- + *magare ‎(“to enable, empower”), from Proto-Germanic *maginą, *maganą ‎(“might, power”).

Cognate with English dismay.

Pronunciation

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ɨʒ.mɐ.ˈɣaɾ/
• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˌez.ma.ˈɡa(ʁ)/