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Slavery in the 1800's was finally slowing down. If you were a slave you still had a rough outing in the 1800's. Slavery was still bad tho knowing people said this, "My grandmother had a large trunk of bedding and table cloths. When that was opened, there was a great shout of surprise; and one exclaimed," "Where'd the damned n*****s git all dis sheet an' table clarf'?" The slave owners weren't so polite back then. It was rough, people got whipped and synched everyday. People nowadays couldn't handle to be abused like that.

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Harriett Jacobs was an African American women that was born into slavery. She was also an African American writer who wrote an autobiography "Incidents In the Life of a Slave Girl". Her autobiography came to be an American Classic. She was born into slavery and was sexually harassed by her enslaver. He threatened to sell her children. She was born in 1813 and died in 1897, age 84.

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Nat Turner was an enslaved man who led the enslaved people to a rebellion. His rebellion had a massacre of 200+ African American people. This made it to where enslaved people couldn't have education, movement and assembly.

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To collect or assemble (a number or amount). "It was always the custom to have a muster every year. On that occasion every white man shouldered his musket. The citizens and the so-called country gentlemen wore military uniforms. The poor whites took their places in the ranks in every-day dress, some without shoes, some without hats.  This grand occasion had already passed; and when the slaves were told there was to be another muster, they were surprised and rejoiced. Poor creatures! They thought it was going to be a holiday.  I was informed of the true state of affairs, and impaired it to the few I could trust. Most gladly would I have proclaimed it to every slave; but I dared not. All could not be relied on. Mighty is the power of the torturing lash." They made them think that it was going to be a good thing.

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a violent uprising against an authority or government. The result was chapter 12, "Fear of Insurrection," which describes white violence against blacks following the revolt.  The chapter departs from the overall plot of Incidents, which dramatizes Jacobs's efforts to resist the sexual aggressions of her owner and later to rescue her children from slavery and reconstitute her family.

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a whip used as an instrument of punishment. It was a grand opportunity for the low whites, who had no negroes of their own to scourge.

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willingness to obey others unquestioningly. They exulted in such a chance to exercise a little brief authority, and show their subservience to the slaveholders; not reflecting that the power which trampled on the colored people also kept themselves in poverty, ignorance, and moral degradation.

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feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected. The consternation was universal.

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: amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion

the two ... stared at each other in consternation, and neither knew what to do - Pearl Buck

Example Sentences

The fact that the exact depth was recorded on the bottles was the source of considerable consternation among the admirals presiding over the Navy inquiry last week. The depth an attack sub can reach is supposed to be classified ... . - In the grimy market-places where so-called friendly intelligence services do their trading, tip-offs, like money, are laundered in all sorts of ways ... . They can be blown up so as to cause consternation or tempered to encourage complacency. - The King was relaxing; his face had softened. Awful, to have to banish this hard-earned peace, burden him with a fresh worry. But better he should hear it from his loyalest baron, his own brother, than have the news blurted out to him by some idiot agent avid to cause a maximum of consternation. - The candidate caused Much to her parents' Karen Breslau et al., John le Carré, Colleen McCullough, consternation among his supporters by changing positions on a key issue. consternation, she had decided to not go to college. The First Man in Rome, Granta 35, Newsweek,

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consternation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

French or Latin; French, from Latin consternation-, consternatio, from consternare to throw into confusion, from com- + -sternare, probably from sternere to spread, strike down - more at strew

1604, in the meaning defined above

The first known use of consternation was in 1604

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Cite this Entry

"Consternation." Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consternation. Accessed 12 Sep. 2023.

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

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The meaning of CONSTERNATION is amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion. How to use consternation in a sentence. Did you know?

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a magical word or phrase uttered with the intention of bringing about evil or destruction; a curse. As they passed out of the gate, the captain turned back, and pronounced a malediction on the house.

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Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Collins German Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005 Collins German Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

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extreme anger (chiefly used for humorous or rhetorical effect). The wrath of the slaveholders was somewhat appeased by the capture of Nat Turner. The imprisoned were released.

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[ rath, rahth or, especially British, rawth ] SHOW IPA

/ ræθ, rɑθ or, especially British, rɔθ / PHONETIC RESPELLING

noun

strong, stern, or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire.

vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger.

adjective

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Origin of wrath

before 900; (noun) Middle English wraththe,Old English wrǣththo, equivalent to wrāth wroth + -tho -th¹; (adj.) variant of wroth by association with the noun

Words nearby wrath

wrapround, wrapt, wrap-up, wrasse, wrastle, wrath, wrathful, wrathy, wreak, wreak havoc, wreath

/ ræθ / PHONETIC RESPELLING

noun

Cape, a high promontory in NW Scotland: most NW point on mainland.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for wrath

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noun

angry, violent, or stern indignation

divine vengeance or retribution

archaic a fit of anger or an act resulting from anger

adjective

Derived forms of wrath

wrathless, adjective

Word Origin for wrath

Old English wrǣththu; see wroth

noun

Cape Wrath a promontory at the NW extremity of the Scottish mainland

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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rath, rahth or, especially British, rawth ] SHOW IPA / ræθ, rɑθ or, especially British, rɔθ / PHONETIC RESPELLING strong, stern, or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire. vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger. adjective WERE YOU BAMBOOZLED BY THE WORDS FROM FEBRUARY? We understand! Words are tricky that way.

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It was an Insurrection. They had a muster of people and had a rebellion against the slave owners. It was significant because it showed the ability of the slaves that they can speak out and rebel against the nasty white slave owners.

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"God is your Father, and all ye are brethren."  The irony in this is that Jesus said that for a reason and for him to say that and we still not treat each other like brothers it's kinda ironic that he says and we don't do what he says it's kinda sad honestly.

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1. It was a grand opportunity for the low whites, who had no negroes of their own to scourge.
2. At that moment I saw a white gentleman who was friendly to us.