'Tragedies' definitions:
Definition of 'Tragedies'
From: GCIDE
- Tragedy \Trag"e*dy\, n.; pl. Tragedies. [OE. tragedie, OF. tragedie, F. trag['e]die, L. tragoedia, Gr. ?, fr. ? a tragic poet and singer, originally, a goat singer; ? a goat (perhaps akin to ? to gnaw, nibble, eat, and E. trout) + ? 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] Tragic