n.; pl. Tragedies [ OE. tragedie, OF. tragedie, F. tragédie, L. tragoedia, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; a tragic poet and singer, originally, a goat singer; &unr_; a goat (perhaps akin to &unr_; to gnaw, nibble, eat, and E. trout) + &unr_; to sing; 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 goatskins. See Ode. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A dramatic poem, composed in elevated style, representing a signal action performed by some person or persons, and having a fatal issue; that species of drama which represents the sad or terrible phases of character and life. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tragedy is to say a certain storie,
As olde bookes maken us memorie,
Of him that stood in great prosperitee
And is yfallen out of high degree
Into misery and endeth wretchedly. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

All our tragedies are of kings and princes. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

tragedy is poetry in its deepest earnest; comedy is poetry in unlimited jest. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fatal and mournful event; any event in which human lives are lost by human violence, more especially by unauthorized violence. [ 1913 Webster ]