tragedy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A very sad event, especially one involving death or great loss.

   The plane crash was a terrible tragedy.

2. 2
   noun

   A serious play or story with a sad ending, often ending in the main character's downfall.

   "Hamlet" is one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies.

From the Middle English tragedie, from the Old French tragedie, from the Latin tragoedia, from the Ancient Greek τραγῳδία (tragōidía, “epic play, tragedy”), from τράγος (trágos, “male goat”) + ᾠδή (ōidḗ, “song”), possibly a reference to the goat-satyrs of the theatrical plays of the Dorians, or according to Beekes possibly to a goat given as prize, though the etymology remains uncertain.

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