tristis Latin · revision 17903

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈtriːs.tɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtris.tis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''trīstis''' (neuter trīste, comparative trīstior, superlative trīstissimus, adverb trīste); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is unknown.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Hill connected it with the Germanic words for “bold”, such as [[ang|þrīste]], [[goh|drīsti]] and [[osx|thrīsti]], through a preform [[itc-pro|*trenksti-]]; de Vaan objects that this preform could only have given ⟨*trēsti-⟩ in Latin, and knows no better etymology.^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary also lists comparisons with [[grc|δριμύς|tr=drimús|t=sharp, bitter]] and [[cu|дрѧхлъ|tr=dręxlŭ|t=sad]].^(Wiktionary) Lewis and Short compared [[m|la|terreō]] “to frighten”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Ennius already has it of a gloomy heart: ''haud temere est quod tū trīstī cum corde gubernās'', “it is not for nothing that you steer with a sad heart”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Trīstis'' is first “depressed, gloomy, unhappy”, of people and of the face or bearing that shows it.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It then describes situations and feelings marked by distress, “bitter”; a temper that is “sullen, morose” or “cross” with someone; and, approvingly, a manner that is “stern, solemn, austere”, as of a strict judge or an old-fashioned style of speaking.^(OLD 2012) Of events, news and omens it means “grim, dreadful” (a court's adverse verdict is euphemistically the ''trīstis littera''), and of colours, shade and places “gloomy, dismal”.^(OLD 2012) It also means “harsh, bitter” of taste and “offensive” of smell.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In Church Latin it keeps the plain sense “sad, sorrowful, dejected”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''numquam ego tē trīstiōrem vīdī esse'', “I have never seen you gloomier”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius: ''trīstī cum corde''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence speaks of the ''trīstis sevēritās'' in someone's face.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius: ''trīste leōnum sēminium'', “the grim breed of lions”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil: ''quō trīstis Erīnys … vocat'', “where the grim Fury calls”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|sad]], [[m|en|gloomy]], unhappy, dejected (also in one's looks).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Marked by distress, bitter (of situations and feelings).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Ill-humoured, [[m|en|morose]]; cross (with someone); unfriendly.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Stern, solemn, [[m|en|austere]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Grim, dreadful, ill-omened (of events, news, signs).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Dismal, sombre (of colours, shade and places).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Harsh, bitter (of taste); offensive (of smell).^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pertrīstis]]

+ * [[subtrīstis]]

+ * [[tristiculus]]

+ * [[trīstificus]]

+ * [[trīstimōnia]]

+ * [[trīstitās]]

+ * [[trīstitia]]

+ * [[trīstitūdō]]

+ * [[trīstor]]

+ * [[trīstitiēs]]

+ * [[contrīstō]]

+ * [[trīstē]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis and Short list ''[[maestus]]'', ''[[sevērus]]'', ''[[austērus]]'' and ''[[luctuōsus]]'' among its near-synonyms.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}