chagrin

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 31, 2006 is: chagrin • \shuh-GRIN\ • noun : disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure Examples: It was with a great deal of chagrin that Lynette heard the news that her sister wasn't coming to her wedding. Did you know? "Chagrin" comes from French, in which it means "grief," "sorrow," or essentially the same thing as our "chagrin," and in which it is also an adjective meaning "sad." Some etymologists have linked this "chagrin" with another French "chagrin," meaning "rough leather" or "rough skin." Supposedly, the rough leather used to rub, polish, or file became a metaphor in French for agitating situations. English-speakers have also adopted the leathery "chagrin" into our language but have altered the spelling to "shagreen." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.