Trăg'ē-dy, n.

n. [Fr. tragédie, It. & Sp. tragedia, Lat. tragedia, Gr. τραγῳδία, originally a goat-song, from τράγος, a goat, and ᾠδή, a song, either 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 goat-skins.]

1Sense 1. A dramatic poem representing some signal action performed by illustrious persons, and generally having a fatal issue.

All our tragedies are of kings and princes. Bp. Taylor.

Tragedy is poetry in its deepest earnest; comedy is poetry in unlimited jest. Coleridge.

2Sense 2. A fatal and mournful event; any event in which human lives are lost by human violence, more especially by unauthorized violence.