tragedy

[traj-i-dee]

noun

plural

tragedies 

1. a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event or affair; calamity; disaster.

   stunned by the tragedy of so many deaths.

2. a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically involving a great person destined to experience downfall or utter destruction, as through a character flaw or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or an unyielding society.

3. the branch of the drama that is concerned with this form of composition.

4. the art and theory of writing and producing tragedies.

5. any literary composition, as a novel, dealing with a somber theme carried to a tragic or disastrous conclusion.

6. the tragic or mournful or calamitous element of drama, of literature generally, or of life.

tragedy

/ ˈtrædʒɪdɪ /

noun

1. (esp in classical and Renaissance drama) a play in which the protagonist, usually a man of importance and outstanding personal qualities, falls to disaster through the combination of a personal failing and circumstances with which he cannot deal

2. (in later drama, such as that of Ibsen) a play in which the protagonist is overcome by a combination of social and psychological circumstances

3. any dramatic or literary composition dealing with serious or sombre themes and ending with disaster

4. (in medieval literature) a literary work in which a great person falls from prosperity to disaster, often through no fault of his own

5. the branch of drama dealing with such themes

6. the unfortunate aspect of something

7. a shocking or sad event; disaster

tragedy

1. A serious drama in which a central character, the protagonist — usually an important, heroic person — meets with disaster either through some personal fault or through unavoidable circumstances. In most cases, the protagonist's downfall conveys a sense of human dignity in the face of great conflict. Tragedy originated in ancient Greece in the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. In modern times, it achieved excellence with William Shakespeare in such works as Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, and Othello. Twentieth-century tragedies include Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, and Murder in the Cathedral, by T. S. Eliot.

In common usage, disasters of many kinds are called tragedies.

Aristotle argued that the proper effect of tragedy is catharsis — the purging of the emotions.

Other Word Forms

• nontragedy noun
• protragedy adjective
• supertragedy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tragedy¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English tragedie, from Medieval Latin tragēdia, Latin tragoedia, from Greek tragōidía, from trág(os) “goat” + ōid(ḗ) “song” ( ode ) + -ia -y ³; reason for name variously explained

Word History and Origins

Origin of tragedy¹

C14: from Old French tragédie , from Latin tragoedia , from Greek tragōidia , from tragos goat + ōidē song; perhaps a reference to the goat-satyrs of Peloponnesian plays

Example Sentences

“Please know that I am praying for you, grieving with you, and will continue to face this tragedy with honesty, responsibility, and compassion,” he added.

From Los Angeles Times

Ali described the death of two Jewish people in an attack at a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday as "an absolute tragedy" and expressed solidarity with the Jewish community.

From BBC

Compartmentalizing the tale, however, feels like a disservice to a much broader tragedy.

From Los Angeles Times

Sir Keir said there was no doubt emergency services and the synagogue's security guards "prevented an even greater tragedy".

From BBC

A popular and promising young mountaineer fell to his death on Yosemite’s El Capitan on Wednesday, a tragedy that was reportedly live-streamed on social media.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adversity 
• calamity 
• catastrophe 
• failure 
• hardship 
• humiliation 
• misfortune 
• mishap 
• shock 
• struggle 
• woe 
• wreck