Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Tragedy?

\Trag"e*dy\, n.; pl. {Tragedies}. [OE. tragedie, OF. tragedie, F. trag['e]die, 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}.] 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. 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. All our tragedies are of kings and princes. --Jer. Taylor. tragedy is poetry in its deepest earnest; comedy is poetry in unlimited jest. --Coleridge. 2. A fatal and mournful event; any event in which human lives are lost by human violence, more especially by unauthorized violence.