chagrin

plural chagrins · alternative obsolete chagrine · alternative misspelling chargrin

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

   much to the chagrin (of)

   5 more examples

   [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.

   1876, Louisa May Alcott, chapter 8, in Rose In Bloom

   “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.[…]”

   1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Tragedy in Dartmoor Terrace”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020

   I was like that, not in a state of fury but of sadness, when your letter arrived. I began to read it, with the pleasure one feels on hearing oneself attacked by somebody one likes. But when I reached the passage about the ‘sadism’ and ‘demonicalness’ of my persecution of you, my chagrin couldn’t hold out, and gaiety broke through.

   1983, Robert de Montesquiou, translated by Terence Kilmartin, “From Robert de Montesquiou, around 8 July 1915”, in Philip Kolb, editor, Marcel Proust, Selected Letters, volume 3 (1910–1917), London: HarperCollinsPublishers, →ISBN, pages 317–318

   To the chagrin of Rose, one of the younger women, Ginger, has never even learned to make perogi, Polish dumplings.

   1998 December 27, Shirley P. Blackwell, “Enjoyable ‘Pears on a Willow Tree’ is novel of ‘cultural tussle’”, in Sun Journal, New Bern, N.C.: Freedom Communications, →OCLC, page C2, column 1

   And even though their numbers have been halved—that’s the unofficial tally given in one of the strategy sessions—everyone from Sansa to Daenerys to Varys is wondering who is going to rule over which pile of smoking ruins. That’s when the campaigning begins, much to Jon and Dany’s chagrin.

   2019 May 5, Danette Chavez, “Campaigns are Waged On and Off the Game Of Thrones Battlefield (Newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 28 Jan 2021

   Synonyms: disquiet, fretfulness, mortification, peevishness, vexation

2. countableuncountableA type of leather or skin with a rough surface.

   Synonyms: shagreen

present singular third person chagrins · participle present chagrining · participle past chagrined · past chagrined · alternative obsolete chagrine · alternative misspelling chargrin

1. transitiveTo bother or vex; to mortify.

   Meet once a year, then part, and then Retiring, wish to meet again.

   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

   4 more examples

   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.

   1683, Richard Tonson, Jacob Tonson, translated by Daniel Defoe, An Account of Monsieur De Quesne’s Late Expedition at Chio, London, page 50

   […] 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.

   1748, Laetitia Pilkington, Memoirs, volume 3, Dublin, page 75

   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.

   1855, Elizabeth Gaskell, chapter 40, in North and South

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

   1970, Toni Morrison, “Autumn”, in The Bluest Eye, New York: Pocket Books, published 1972, page 23

2. obsoleterarereflexiveTo be vexed or annoyed.

   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?—

   1760, Arthur Murphy, The Way to Keep Him, London: P. Vaillant, act I, scene 1, page 8

comparative more chagrin · superlative most chagrin · alternative obsolete chagrine · alternative misspelling chargrin

1. obsoleteFeeling chagrin; annoyed; vexed, fretful.First known use 17ᵗʰ to 18ᵗʰ centuries.

   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 […]

   3 more examples

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

   1673, John Dryden, Marriage a-la-mode, London: Henry Herringman, act III, scene 1, page 33

   […] 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.

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

   All pensive, heartless, and chagrine I sit, devoted prey to spleen;

   1758, “Captain T-of BATTEREAU’s Regiment in the Isle of SKIE to Captain P- at Fort AUGUSTUS”, in Robert Dodsley, editor, A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes, London: R. & J. Dodsley, page 243

   Synonyms: chagrined