tragedy

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtradʒɪdi/

noun (plural tragedies)

  • 1an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe: a tragedy that killed 95 people [mass noun]: his life had been plagued by tragedy
  • 2a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character: Shakespeare’s tragedies
  • [mass noun] the dramatic genre represented by tragedies: Greek tragedyCompare with comedy.

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French tragedie, via Latin from Greek tragōidia, apparently from tragos 'goat' (the reason remains unexplained) + ōidē 'song, ode'. Compare with tragic

Spelling help

Spell tragedy with -g- in the middle.

tragedy began in ancient Greece.