Also 4 tristesce, 5 trystesse, (tristresse), 6 tristes. Now only as F. [ME. a. OF. tristesce, -tece, -trece (12th c. in Godef., Compl.), F. tristesse, = Prov. tristicia, tristessa, Sp., Pg. tristeza, It. tristezza:—L. tristitia sadness, f. tristis sad.] Sadness, grief, melancholy.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 115. He withinne his thought conceiveth Tristesce, and so himself deceiveth.
c. 1425. Lydg., Dance Macabre, x. Mine old ioyes been turned into tristesse.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V., 11. He ledde hys lyf in grete trystesse and sorowe. Ibid. (c. 1489), Blanchardyn, IV. 20. Þe palays and the cyte were tourned from Ioye vnto tristresse.
1547. Hooper, Declar. Christ, v. E iij b. Ezeb … signifithe ether affliction, rebellion, sorow, tristes, trauel, or peyne.
1797. Scott, Fam. Lett. (1894), I. 6. If it will help to banish Tristesse, let me again assure you that every thought of my heart shall be directed to insure your happiness.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, xvi. 262. Nature … too much by half for man in the picture, and so giving a certain tristesse.
