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trit / tri

to rub, wear down

Latin · terere / tritus

Trit words come from the Latin word for rubbing and wearing down. Something trite is worn smooth by overuse, attrition is a slow wearing down, and a contrite person is crushed by regret.

Memory trick

A trite phrase is rubbed smooth by too many mouths, like a pebble in a river.

Words from this root