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Saturday, December 03, 2005

Word of the Day for Saturday December 3, 2005

chagrin (shuh-GRIN)

noun: Acute vexation, annoyance, or embarrassment, arising from disappointment or failure.

He noted with chagrin how little hair clung to his head.
- -John Marks, The Wall

transitive verb: To unsettle or vex by disappointment or humiliation; to mortify.

Rich Moroni was earning $20,000 a year as a cook and was chagrined to discover that he couldn't keep up with the style of life and spending of his preferred reference group -- the lawyers and executives who shared his passion for squash and belonged to the same health club.
--Peter T. Kilborn, "Splurge," New York Times, June 21, 1998

Chagrined to find that her current boyfriend has become best pals with her ex-boyfriend Hank, she goes to her ex with the problem.
--Stephen J. Dubner, "Boston Rockers," New York Times, July 26, 1998

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