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tryst

[ trist, trahyst ]
/ trÉȘst, traÉȘst /
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See synonyms for: tryst / trysted / trysting on Thesaurus.com
noun
an appointment to meet at a certain time and place, especially one made somewhat secretly by lovers.
an appointed meeting.
an appointed place of meeting.
verb (used with object)
Chiefly Scot. to make an appointment or arrange a meeting with.
verb (used without object)
Chiefly Scot. to make an appointment or agreement.
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Origin of tryst

1325–75; Middle English triste set hunting-station <Old French <Germanic; compare Gothic trausti agreement, arrangement, akin to Middle English trist confidence (Old English *tryst). See trow, trust

OTHER WORDS FROM tryst

tryster, noun

Words nearby tryst

tryptamine, tryptophan, trysail, trysail mast, try square, tryst, trysting place, tryworks, Ts, tsade, Tsakonian
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT TRYST

What does tryst mean?

A tryst is an appointment made to meet at a specific place and time, especially one made in secret by lovers, as in The two employees arranged a tryst for meeting secretly after work. 

Tryst is also the meeting itself or the place where the meeting will happen, as in Paul snuck out of his room and headed to the tryst.

Uncommonly, tryst can be used as a verb to mean to plan a meeting, as in Romeo and Juliet met outside the balcony and secretly trysted.   

Example: The married businessman denied all accusations that he had had a secret tryst with one of his female business partners.

Where does tryst come from?

The first records of tryst come from around 1325. It comes from the Old French triste, meaning a “lookout post” or “hunting station.” A distinguishing landmark like a lookout post would be an easy spot for hunters to find in order to meet up with each other. This kind of meeting was unlikely to result in romance—for the hunters or the hunted.

Today, the word tryst is often used in gossip articles or news stories about shocking love affairs. Because the word tryst is so often used to specifically mean secret romantic meetings, it is usually used when one of the people involved wants to keep the romance a secret, such as because they are in a relationship with someone else.

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What are some other forms related to tryst?

  • tryster (noun)

What are some synonyms for tryst?

What are some words that share a root or word element with tryst? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing tryst?

How is tryst used in real life?

Tryst is most often used to refer to secret romantic meetings.

Try using tryst!

Is tryst used correctly in the following sentence?

After photos of the romantic date emerged, the singer admitted he had arranged a tryst with the lead guitarist.

Words related to tryst

assignation, rendezvous, appointment, date, engagement, meet, union

How to use tryst in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tryst

tryst
/ (trÉȘst, traÉȘst) archaic, or literary /
noun
an appointment to meet, esp secretly
the place of such a meeting or the meeting itself
verb
(intr) to meet at or arrange a tryst

Derived forms of tryst

tryster, noun

Word Origin for tryst

C14: from Old French triste lookout post, apparently of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse traust trust
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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