chagrin

• chagrine (obsolete)

From French chagrin (“sorrow”), of uncertain origin.

A prevalent theory in many dictionaries is that it came from a metaphorical use of Old French chagrin (“a type of roughened leather”),[1] with the connection of roughness.

Another theory, due to Gamillscheg, is that it derives from Old French graigne (“sadness, resentment, grief”), from graim (“sorrowful”), perhaps related to Old High German gram (“angry, fierce”).[2]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈʃæɡ.ɹɪn/
• (US) enPR: shə-grĭn', IPA^(key): /ʃəˈɡɹɪn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

chagrin (countable and uncountable, plural chagrins)

1. Distress of mind caused by a failure of aims or plans, want of appreciation, mistakes etc; vexation or mortification.

   Synonyms: disquiet, fretfulness, mortification, peevishness, vexation

   • 1876, Louisa May Alcott, Rose In Bloom, ch. 8:

     [H]e alone knew how deep was the deluded man's chagrin at the failure of the little plot which he fancied was prospering finely.

   • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in The Tragedy in Dartmoor Terrace‎:

     “Mrs. Yule's chagrin and horror at what she called her son's base ingratitude knew no bounds ; at first it was even thought that she would never get over it. […]”

2. A type of leather or skin with a rough surface.[3]

   Synonym: shagreen

Often used in the form to one’s chagrin.

• shagreen

• disgust
• disappointment

chagrin (third-person singular simple present chagrins, present participle chagrining, simple past and past participle chagrined)

1. (transitive) To bother or vex; to mortify.
   • 1683, Daniel Defoe (attributed translator), An Account of Monsieur De Quesne’s Late Expedition at Chio, London: Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, p. 50,

     But since this Infidel Minister knows the folly of these Brags; which he sees destroy’d by the Relations Printed in other Countries: They serve only, for a Subject to augment his Pride; and gives him a Pleasure, the mor to Chagrine and Mortifie the French Ambassador.

   • 1748, Laetitia Pilkington, Memoirs, Dublin, Volume 3, p. 75,

     […] though you send at any Time, and even received an unmannerly Answer, do not let a rash Pride drive you to return the Affront, since it is impossible for you to know what at that Instant had chagrin’d their Temper.

   • 1764, William Shenstone, “The Progress of Taste,” Part I, in The Works in Verse and Prose of William Shenstone, London: R. & J. Dodsley, Volume I, p. 265,

     But friends and fav’rites, to chagrin them,

     Find counties, countries, seas, between them:

     Meet once a year, then part, and then

     Retiring, wish to meet again.

   • 1855, Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South, Chapter 40,

     He felt pretty sure that, if this interview took place, his mother's account of what passed at it would only annoy and chagrin him, though he would all the time be aware of the colouring which it received by passing through her mind.

   • 1970, Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, New York: Pocket Books, 1972, “Autumn,” p. 23,

     She would go on like that for hours, connecting one offense to another until all of the things that chagrined her were spewed out.

2. (reflexive, obsolete, rare) To be vexed or annoyed.
   • 1760, Arthur Murphy, The Way to Keep Him, London: P. Vaillant, Act I, Scene 1, p. 8,

     Dear Ma’am, why will you chagrine yourself about a vile Man, that is not worth,—no, as I live and breathe,—not worth a single Sigh?—

The verb form is now mainly used in the passive voice.

• chagrined
• chagrining

chagrin (comparative more chagrin, superlative most chagrin)

1. (obsolete) Feeling chagrin; annoyed; vexed, fretful.[17^th to 18^th centuries.][4]
   • 1673, John Dryden, Marriage a-la-mode, London: Henry Herringman, Act III, Scene 1, p. 33,

     Dear, my dear, pity me; I am so chagrin to day, and have had the most signal affront at Court!

   • 1718, Daniel Defoe, The Family Instructor, London: Emanuel Matthews, Volume 2, Dialogue 5, p. 390,

     […] instead of rejoycing at this Prosperity of his Family, which a true Father of his Children would have esteem’d his own, a Spirit of Envy and Discontent seized him, and he went away chagrine and melancholy.

   • 1728, Henry Fielding, Love in Several Masques, Act V, Scene 3, in The Works of Henry Fielding, Esq, London: W. Strahan et al., 1784, Volume I, p. 174,

     I wou’d not have your ladyship chagrin at my bride’s expression […]

   • 1758, “Captain T—of BATTEREAU’s Regiment in the Isle of SKIE to Captain P— at Fort AUGUSTUS” in Robert Dodsley (ed.), A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes, London: R. & J. Dodsley, p. 243,

     All pensive, heartless, and chagrine

     I sit, devoted prey to spleen;

• chagrined

• Charing, arching, chargin', charing

From chagriner, perhaps from Frankish gram, akin to German Gram[1]

• IPA^(key): /ʃa.ɡʁɛ̃/

• audio

  (file)

chagrin m (plural chagrins)

1. sorrow, grief, chagrin

chagrin (feminine singular chagrine, masculine plural chagrins, feminine plural chagrines)

1. (literary) despondent, woeful
2. (literary) disgruntled, morose

• chagrinant
• chagriner

• “chagrin” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).