tristeful

English

Adjective

tristeful (comparative more tristeful, superlative most tristeful)

1. Alternative form of tristful.
   • 1823 January 25, “The Romaunt of Llewellyn; (Continued.) Canto I.—Part III.”, in The Manchester Iris: A Literary and Scientific Miscellany, […], volume II, number 52, Manchester: […] Henry Smith, […], stanza LVI, page 28, column 1:

     Unchanged the world remains.-⁠-⁠-The change is here; / In this sad breast,-⁠-⁠-this sorrow-sunken soul, / This tristeful heart, the deep, dark dungeon, where / Lie broken hopes and ever-during dole.

   • 1834, Maria Edgeworth, chapter XV, in Helen, a Tale, volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], page 319:

     Lady Katrine was there, with her “tristeful visage,” as Churchill justly called it, and more tristeful it presently became.

   • 1834 June 21, “[Spectator’s Library.] Sir Egerton Brydges.”, in The Spectator, volume VII, number 312, page 590, column 2:

     The work has been called melancholy, and the impression it leaves has been represented as lugubriously tristeful.

   • 1875, Thérèse Yelverton, “Charleston, S. Carolina”, in Teresina in America, volume I, London: Richard Bentley and Son, pages 52–53:

     From this church tower during the still hours of the night, comes the tristeful cry of the watchman, “Past twelve, all’s well: bright starry night,” or “stormy night.”

   • 1875 September 11, Edward Viles, “Black Bess; An Historical Tale of “The Good Old Times.””, in The Albion: An International Journal. […], volume 53, number 37, New York, N.Y., chapter LI, page 11, column 2:

     Shortly afterwards, however, Sir Ernest’s wife was observed to lapse into her old tristeful state.

   • 1884, Luis de Camoens, “Lembranças tristes, para que gastais tento (On the death of a lover)”, in Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl., Camoens. The Lyricks., part I (Sonnets, Canzons, Odes, and Sextines), London: Bernard Quaritch, […], page 248:

     Ye tristeful Souvenirs! why this vain intent / Of over-tiring heart so tired by Fate?

   • 1892 September 3, “Inns and Outs. No. II.—The Head-Wetter.”, in Punch, or The London Charivari, volume CIII, London: […] [T]he Office, […], page 105, column 2:

     I was once in the Grand Hôtel during the usual “exceptional season,” when it rained unintermittently for a fortnight; the place was empty; “tristeful,” as Adolf styled it.

   • 1903, Gaston Paris, “From Philip VI. to Charles VII. (1328–1436)”, in [Hannah Lynch], transl., Mediæval French Literature, London: J[oseph] M[alaby] Dent & Co., […], page 119:

     The Breton romance in prose still produced in Isaïe the Tristeful (supposed to be the son of Tristan and Iseut) a rather amusing and original work, where, under a quaint disguise, is introduced the little king of fairyland of Huon of Bordeaux.

   • 1903 July 25, H. L., “Paris Letter. (From our French Correspondent.)”, in The Academy and Literature, volume LXV, number 1629, London: Publishing Office: […], published 1904, page 88, column 2:

     The difference between these poets is that whereas Mme. de Noailles’ novel “La Nouvelle Espérance” is utterly bad, the prose scarcely readable, pretentious, twisted, quite un-French, the characterisation feeble to the degree of inanity, the immorality exasperating in its stupid unaccountableness, Mme. de Régnier’s novel “L’Inconsciente” is admirably artistic, finished, original and aimable even in its tristeful unconsciousness of evil.

   • 1916, “Plays and Players, Evening of “Plaes and Enterludes”, Globe Theatre”, in Shakespeare Tercentenary: Exhibition of Shakespeariana, page 58:

     Our gentle Will Shakespeare, our English Roscius, Dick Burbage, and thereto also other Sharers, Players, Factors and pert and pretty Boyes of my Lord Chamberlaine his Servants will play in sundrie Scaenes from those delectable Commedies entitled The Taming of the Shrew and As You Like It and from that Tragic comoedia of tristeful Sorrow and pleasant mirth, The Winters Tale.

     Deliberately written in an archaic style.

   • 1919, Cale Young Rice, “Finitude”, in Shadowy Thresholds, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., stanza II, pages 16–17:

     I have wakened out of my sleep because I too / Am wistful, / Tristeful; / Because I know that half of me is gone, / And that all frailty cries in the cricket’s tone.

   • 1923 February, Cynthia Stockley, “Ponjola: Cynthia Stockley’s Romance of the African Veldt”, in Cosmopolitan, volume LXXIV, number 2, chapter XXI, page 159, column 1:

     “YOU understand, Florence, this is not a lover’s rendezvous or anything of that sort.” A tristeful smile flickered over Gay Lypiatt’s lips.

   • 1971, James K. Lowers, King Henry IV, Part 1: Notes, Lincoln, Neb.: Cliffs Notes, Inc., published 1999, →ISBN, page 42:

     He is especially appreciated by the hostess of this disreputable tavern, whom he calls, in lines of heroic verse, his “sweet . . . tristeful queen.”

   • 1993, Sean Stewart, Nobody’s Son, San Diego, Calif., New York, N.Y., London: Magic Carpet Books, Harcourt, Inc., published 2000, →ISBN, pages 43 and 69:

     One thousand years has darkness lain upon that Wood, and spilled its gloom upon our hearts, a tristeful tributary, fouling with its melancholy spring the shining Sea that is our kingdom. […] “Ha! The Queen is tristeful,” Val said suddenly. All eyes darted to the head table. The Queen was frowning at a butler, but just as Mark looked up, Gail happened to be looking at him.

   • 2004, Orchestral Pictures: Musical Creations for Full & Chamber Orchestra. Moods & Themes Suitable for Various Contexts. (JUST 41)‎^[1], Justement Music:

     25 Autumn 3'17 - Adagio / Tristeful mood, Contemporary classical-flavoured piece - Woodwind featuring, Hopeful finale in major