trite etymology

Etymology and Origin

The word "trite" comes from the Latin word "tritus," which means "rubbed or worn out." In ancient Rome, gladiators would often rub themselves with oil and sand before a fight to make their bodies slippery and difficult to grab. Over time, the word "tritus" came to be used figuratively to describe something that is overused or commonplace.

Meaning

Trite is an adjective that is used to describe something that is overused, commonplace, or lacking in originality. It can also be used to describe something that is boring or uninteresting.

Examples

  • The politician's speech was full of trite clichés.
  • The movie was so trite that I fell asleep halfway through.
  • I'm tired of hearing the same trite excuses.

Similar Words

  • Banal
  • Commonplace
  • Clichéd
  • Hackneyed
  • Overused
  • Platitudinous
  • Stereotyped

trite relate terms

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  • contour

    Etymology French contour outline from Old French contor circuit from Late Latin c

  • contrite

    Etymology Latin contritus past participle of conterere to rub together crush grind

  • detour

    Etymology French détour from Old French destorner to turn away Vulgar Latin di

  • detriment

    Etymology From Middle French détriment from Latin dētrīmentum diminution loss d

  • diatribe

    Etymology Latin diatriba from Greek διατριβή diatribē Meaning A bitt

  • drill

    Etymology The word drill derives from the Middle English word dryllen meaning to pi

  • lithotripsy

    Etymology Lithotripsy comes from the Greek words Lithos λίθος meaning stone T

  • septentrion

    Etymology The word septentrion comes from the Latin word septentriō which in turn c

  • thrash

    Etymology The word thrash is thought to have originated from Old English threscan

  • thread

    Etymology The word thread traces its origins back to the Old English word thræd whi

  • thresh

    Etymology The word thresh derives from the Old English þerscan meaning to beat or

  • throw

    Etymology Old English thragan Proto Germanic þragjaną Proto Indo European d

  • threshold

    Etymology Old English therscwald doorsill threshold From Proto Germanic threskō

  • trauma

    Etymology The word trauma comes from the Greek word τραῦμα trauma which mea

  • trepan

    Etymology Origin Greek trypanon borer drill auger Suffix an forming nouns den

  • tribology

    Etymology Tribology is derived from the Greek words tribos τριβος meaning ru

  • tribulation

    Etymology From Late Latin tribulationem oppression trouble from Latin tribulum

  • trite

    Etymology and Origin The word trite comes from the Latin word tritus which means ru

  • triticale

    Etymology The word triticale is a portmanteau of the genus names Triticum wheat and S

  • triturate

    Etymology Latin trīturāre tritūrātum from trītus past participle of terere to

  • trout

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  • trypsin

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  • tryptophan

    Etymology and Meaning The word tryptophan is derived from the Greek words trypto mea

  • turn

    Etymology The word turn comes from the Old English word turnian meaning to cause to

  • banal

    Etymology Latin banalis meaning common ordinary trivial Old French banal Meani

  • commonplace

    Etymology Common from the Old French communis meaning shared by all or general

  • stock

    Etymology The word stock has several origins Old English stocc trunk of a tree

  • platitude

    Etymology Latin plātitūdō plātitudinis from plātus flat broad wide French

  • cliche

    Etymology French cliché Ultimately from French clicher meaning to click Meanin

  • stale

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  • daffodil

    Etymology The word daffodil is derived from the Middle English word daffadowndilly

  • profound

    Etymology The word profound comes from the Latin word profundus which means deep o

  • class

    Etymology The term etymology comes from the Greek words etymon true meaning and

  • nature

    Etymology The word nature ultimately derives from the Latin word natura which means