tragedy
tragedy Lexical Profile
tragedy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.
"The entire community came together to support the families affected by the sudden tragedy."
A serious play or literary work dealing with sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by a heroic individual, or the branch of drama consisting of such works.
"During the semester, the literature class studied classical Greek tragedy alongside Shakespeare's major plays."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English via Old French and Latin from the Ancient Greek 'tragōidia', literally meaning 'goat-song' (from 'tragos', goat, and 'ōidē', song), possibly referring to a goat awarded as a prize in early Athenian dramatic competitions or to actors dressed in goatskins.