Trite Definition | Definition of Trite at Dictionary.com

trite

[trahyt]

–adjective, trit⋅er, trit⋅est.

1.	lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition; hackneyed; stale: the trite phrases in his letter.

2.	characterized by hackneyed expressions, ideas, etc.: The commencement address was trite and endlessly long.

3.	Archaic. rubbed or worn by use.

Origin:
1540–50; < L trītus worn, common, equiv. to trī- (var. s. of terere to rub, wear down) + -tus ptp. suffix

Related forms:

tritely, adverb

triteness, noun

Synonyms:
1. ordinary. See commonplace.

Antonyms:
1. original.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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trite (trīt)

adj. trit·er, trit·est

Lacking power to evoke interest through overuse or repetition; hackneyed.
Archaic Frayed or worn out by use.

[Latin trītus, from past participle of terere, to wear out; see terə-¹ in Indo-European roots.]
trite'ly adv., trite'ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Trite

Trite\, a. [L. tritus, p. p. of terere to rub, to wear out; probably akin to E. throw. See Throw, and cf. Contrite, Detriment, Tribulation, Try.] Worn out; common; used until so common as to have lost novelty and interest; hackneyed; stale; as, a trite remark; a trite subject. -- Trite"ly, adv. -- Trite"ness, n.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : trite

Spanish: banal,

German: abgedroschen,

Japanese: ありふれた

More Translations »

trite

1548, from L. tritus "worn, familiar," from pp. of terere "to rub, wear down" (see throw).

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