chagrin

Etymology

From French chagrin (“sorrow”), from Middle French chagrin (“pain, affliction”) (compare Middle French chagriner, chagrigner (“to experience sorrow”), Old French chagrin (“painful, afflicted”)), probably derived from Old Northern French chagreiner, chagraigner (“to sadden”), of uncertain origin. Likely an enlargement of Old French greignier, graignier (“to cringe, growl, be sullen, be angry, grieve over”), from Old French graigne (“sadness, resentment, grief”), from graim (“sorrowful”), related to Old High German gram (“furious, gloomy, grieved”). The initial syllable is obscure. It may represent Old French chat (“cat”) to express the idea of "lamenting or yowling like cats" (compare German Katzenjammer (“distress, frustration, depression, chagrin”, literally “cat-wailing, cat-misery”), katzbalgen (“to cat-fight”)). An alternative theory is that it came from a metaphorical use of French chagrin, (peau de) chagrain (“a type of roughened leather”), with the connection of roughness, though some dictionaries consider this to be a separate word derived from Old French peau de sagrin, from Ottoman Turkish sağrı (“the rump of an animal, skin for tawing”). The alteration of initial s to ch is likely due to influence from chagrin meaning "sorrow".

noun

1. Distress of mind caused by a failure of aims or plans, want of appreciation, mistakes etc; vexation or mortification.
   much to the chagrin (of)
   [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. […]” 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in The Tragedy in Dartmoor Terrace
   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. 5 May 2019, Danette Chavez, “Campaigns are Waged On and Off the Game Of Thrones Battlefield (Newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 2021-01-28
2. A type of leather or skin with a rough surface.

verb

1. (transitive) To bother or vex; to mortify.
   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
   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
   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. (reflexive, obsolete, rare) To 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

adj

1. (obsolete) Feeling chagrin; annoyed; vexed, fretful.
   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
   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;