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tragedy
[ traj-i-dee ]
noun
- a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event or affair; calamity; disaster:
stunned by the tragedy of so many deaths.
- 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.
- the branch of the drama that is concerned with this form of composition.
- the art and theory of writing and producing tragedies.
- any literary composition, as a novel, dealing with a somber theme carried to a tragic or disastrous conclusion.
- the tragic or mournful or calamitous element of drama, of literature generally, or of life.
tragedy
/ ˈٰæɪɪ /
noun
- (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
- (in later drama, such as that of Ibsen) a play in which the protagonist is overcome by a combination of social and psychological circumstances
- any dramatic or literary composition dealing with serious or sombre themes and ending with disaster
- (in medieval literature) a literary work in which a great person falls from prosperity to disaster, often through no fault of his own
- the branch of drama dealing with such themes
- the unfortunate aspect of something
- a shocking or sad event; disaster
tragedy
- 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 .
Notes
Other Word Forms
- ԴDz·ٰ· noun plural nontragedies
- ·ٰ· adjective
- p·ٰ· noun plural supertragedies
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of tragedy1
Example Sentences
An Australian woman accused of cooking a fatal mushroom meal admits to picking wild funghi, lying to police and disposing of evidence, but will argue the "tragedy" was a "terrible accident".
On the campaign trail in his hometown of Edmonton, I heard him say "America's leadership of the global economy is over" and that was a "tragedy".
Lam called it a “tragedy,” but his phone still pings with political newbies scheduling appointments to visit with him for advice, an endorsement or a donation.
"The details of how they helped are still emerging, but I already know without them we may have had a far worse tragedy," he said.
Even the traditional call of “It’s Time for Dodgers Baseball” had a Palisades twist, recited by a group of other players who were personally impacted by the tragedy.
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