tryst English · revision 2405

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tɹɪst/, /tɹaɪst/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|triste|t=an appointed station in hunting]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) [[bor|fro|triste]], variant of ''tristre'' “a waiting place where hunters await game”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) probably from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse ''treysta'' “to trust, make firm”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) It is related to [[trust]].^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An appointed station (about 1200 in Etymonline), or a mutual appointment or agreement (about 1375 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline explains the original idea as “a place where one waits trustingly”.^(Etymonline) By the late 14th century the word meant an appointment to meet at a certain time and place,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and also the meeting place itself.^(OED 1989) In Scotland it was also used for a cattle market or fair.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) Today it usually means a secret meeting of lovers.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1200 – ''triste'', an appointed station.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1375 – an appointment to meet; a meeting place.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1375 – verb, to make an agreement to meet.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1425 – an appointed meeting or assembly.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An agreement, especially between lovers, to meet at a certain time and place.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The meeting itself, or its agreed place.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or keep a tryst.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tryster]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[trust]]

+ * [[rendezvous]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''assignation'' and ''rendezvous'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}