tristful

adjective

trist·ful | \ ˈtrist-fəl

How to pronounce tristful (audio)

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Definition of tristful

: sad, melancholy

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Did You Know?

The Middle English word trist, from which "tristful" is derived, means "sad." Today, we spell this word triste (echoing the spelling of a French ancestor), whereas "tristful" has continued to be spelled without the "e." Is there a connection between "triste" ("sad") and "tryst" ("a secret rendezvous of lovers")? Not exactly. "Tryst" can be traced back to a Middle English "trist," but it is a different word, one that was a synonym of "trust." This word eventually fell into disuse, but before doing so, it may have given rise to a word for a station used by hunters, which is in turn believed to have led to "tryst."

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Cite this Entry

“Tristful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tristful. Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.

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