Dudgeon

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈdʌd͡ʒən/

Definitions

1. A feeling of deep displeasure or anger that arises from perceived wrongs or slighting behavior
2. an emotional state marked by strong resentment and indignation usually expressed publicly
3. A mood characterized by intense annoyance or resentment stemming from a perceived insult or injustice

Etymology: Dudgeon is one of those English words whose origin nobody has pinned down. Its earliest form is Middle English "dogeon", which appears to have come into English from Anglo-Norman or Middle French, but the trail beyond that point goes cold. Some scholars have tied it to the French "douve", meaning "stave", the curved wooden plank of a barrel, but this connection remains a guess rather than a proven link. Several other theories have been proposed. One suggests a Welsh source, "dygen", meaning "anger" or "grudge", but the Oxford English Dictionary rejects this. Another links it to an old word "dudgen", meaning something worthless or trashy, which would fit the sense of a sour mood that has little real substance. A third proposal points to Italian "aduggiare", meaning "to overshadow", which would make dudgeon a close cousin of "umbrage", a word that also began with the idea of shade and drifted toward offence. None of these can be confirmed, so the word's true ancestry remains open.

Synonyms: offense, resentment

Antonyms: contentment, composure