See also: Tristesse

English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English trestesse, tristes, tristesce, tristesse, tristice, from Middle French tristesse.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

tristesse (uncountable)

  1. (literary) sadness

Anagrams edit

Dutch edit

Etymology edit

From French tristesse.

Noun edit

tristesse f (plural tristesses, diminutive tristessetje n)

  1. tristesse

French edit

Etymology edit

First attested in Old French as tristesce, tristece. From triste +‎ -esse, modeled after Latin trīstitia.[1]

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /tʁis.tɛs/
  • Rhymes: -ɛs
  • (file)

Noun edit

tristesse f (plural tristesses)

  1. sadness
    la tristesse durerathe sadness will last
    • 1932, Paul Éluard, “À Peine Défigurée”, in La Vie immédiate, Paris: Gallimard:
      Adieu tristesse / Bonjour tristesse / Tu es inscrite dans les lignes du plafond / Tu es inscrite dans les yeux que j’aime / Tu n’es pas tout à fait la misère / Car les lèvres les plus pauvres te dénoncent / Par un sourire
      Farewell sadness / Hello sadness / You are inscribed in the lines on the ceiling / You are inscribed in the eyes of those I love / You are not quite the same as misery / Because the weakest lips can denounce you / With a smile

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

  • English: tristesse

References edit

  1. ^ Etymology and history of “tristesse”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Further reading edit