bayn
(noun) A cause of great distress or annoyance.
Traffic has always been the bane of her morning commute.
Fun Fact
Bane originally meant “killer” or “poison” in Old English—think wolf’s bane, a toxic plant. Over time, it came to mean any source of persistent misery. It’s now often used dramatically or humorously—“My inbox is the bane of my existence.” The word’s tone is flexible: it can be dead serious or a bit tongue-in-cheek.
shuh-GRIN
(noun) A feeling of distress or embarrassment caused by failure or disappointment.
To her chagrin, the carefully planned surprise party was spoiled by an accidental group text.
From French chagrin, meaning “sorrow” or “vexation,” possibly derived from a word for “rough skin” — like something that irritates.
Fun Fact
The word chagrin carries an emotional texture that’s more complex than simple embarrassment — it’s a blend of frustration, disappointment, and self-directed annoyance. In 17th-century France, chagrin described both emotional irritation and literal roughness, as if one’s pride had been rubbed raw. Writers often use it to show quiet, internal defeat rather than public humiliation — the kind that makes you wince later, long after the moment has passed.
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