1. The state of being sad
   "she tired of his perpetual tristesse";
   - sadness, sorrow, sorrowfulness
    
2. The quality of excessive mournfulness and uncheerfulness
   "The poet's tristesse was reflected in his dark and melancholic verses";
   - gloominess, lugubriousness, sadness

Derived forms: tristesses

Type of: uncheerfulness, unhappiness

Encyclopedia: Tristesse