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tragedy

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

tragedy

Main Entry:: trag·e·dy
Pronunciation:: \ˈtra-jə-dē\
Function:: noun
Inflected Form(s):: plural trag·e·dies
Etymology:: Middle English tragedie, from Middle French, from Latin tragoedia, from Greek tragōidia, from tragos goat (akin to Greek trōgein to gnaw) + aeidein to sing — more at troglodyte, ode
Date:: 14th century

1 a: a medieval narrative poem or tale typically describing the downfall of a great man b: a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that elicits pity or terror c: the literary genre of tragic dramas2 a: a disastrous event : calamity b: misfortune3: tragic quality or element

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