Word of the Day - 08/13/26
trite
/traɪt/(adj.): repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
The politician's speech was full of trite phrases about 'hard work' and 'bright futures'.
Word Origin
The word 'trite' originates from the Latin word *tritus*, which is the past participle of *terere*, meaning "to rub, wear out". This root conveys the idea of something being worn out by frequent use, leading to its current meaning of commonplace, hackneyed, or lacking originality due to overuse.
Several English words share a common etymological root with 'trite', stemming from the Latin verb *terere* ("to rub, wear out"). For example, 'attrition' derives from *atterere* ("to rub against, wear away"), and 'detriment' comes from *detrere* ("to rub off, wear away"). 'Contrition' also traces back to a related Latin verb, *conterere* ("to grind, crush"), which incorporates *terere*. These words all carry a foundational sense of wearing down, rubbing, or grinding.