timeworn
UK: ˈtaɪmwɔːn | US: ˈtaɪmwɔːrn
adj. showing the effects of long use or wear; worn out by time
adj. (figuratively) overused to the point of being clichéd or stale
The word "timeworn" combines "time," from Old English tīma (measure of duration), and "worn," the past participle of "wear" (Old English werian, meaning to erode or diminish through use). The compound emerged in the 16th century to describe objects physically degraded by age, later extending metaphorically to ideas or phrases made stale by repetition. The logic mirrors natural decay—time literally "wears down" materials or novelty.
The timeworn steps creaked underfoot, their edges smoothed by centuries of use.
His speech relied on timeworn clichés that failed to inspire the audience.
The library’s timeworn books smelled of dust and history.
Critics dismissed the film’s plot as timeworn and unoriginal.
She cherished the timeworn quilt, each patch telling a family story.