Tragedy

Trag"e*dy

(?), n.;
pl. Tragedies (#).
[OE. tragedie, OF. tragedie, F. tragdie, L. tragoedia, Gr. , fr. a tragic poet and singer, originally, a goat singer; a goat (perhaps akin to to gnaw, nibble, eat, and E. trout) + to sing; from the oldest tragedies being exhibited when a goat was sacrificed, or because a goat was the prize, or because the actors were clothed in goatskins. See Ode.]
[1913 Webster]

1. A dramatic poem, composed in elevated style, representing a signal action performed by some person or persons, and having a fatal issue; that species of drama which represents the sad or terrible phases of character and life.
[1913 Webster]

Tragedy is to say a certain storie,
As olde bookes maken us memorie,
Of him that stood in great prosperitee
And is yfallen out of high degree
Into misery and endeth wretchedly.
Chaucer.
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All our tragedies are of kings and princes.
Jer. Taylor.
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tragedy is poetry in its deepest earnest; comedy is poetry in unlimited jest.
Coleridge.
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2. A fatal and mournful event; any event in which human lives are lost by human violence, more especially by unauthorized violence.
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{

Trag"ic

(?),

Trag"ic*al

(?), } a. [L. tragicus, Gr.: cf. F. tragique.] 1. Of or pertaining to tragedy; of the nature or character of tragedy; as, a tragic poem; a tragic play or representation.
[1913 Webster]

2. Fatal to life; mournful; terrible; calamitous; as, the tragic scenes of the French revolution.
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3. Mournful; expressive of tragedy, the loss of life, or of sorrow.
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Why look you still so stern and tragical ?
Shak.
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-- Trag"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Trag"ic*al*ness, n.
[1913 Webster]

 

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Thu 23rd May 2019