tragic

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈtɹæd͡ʒɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #4220

Meanings

1

adj
Very sad, especially because it involves death or suffering.

Her father's early death was tragic.
2

adj
Relating to tragedy as a type of serious play.

The play follows a classic tragic hero.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · very sad, especially... deplorable distressing heartbreaking lamentable

Word family

Related forms tragical tragicallytragicomic

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

From Ancient Greek τραγικός (tragikós, “of or relating to tragedy”), from τράγος (trágos, “male goat”), a reference to the goat-satyrs of the theatrical plays of the Dorians.

*terh₁- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Theater & Performance

External links

# tragic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɹæd͡ʒɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 4220

## Meanings
1. Very sad, especially because it involves death or suffering.
2. Relating to tragedy as a type of serious play.

## Examples
- Her father's early death was tragic.
- The play follows a classic tragic hero.

## Related Forms
- tragical
- tragically
- tragicomic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *terh₁-

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek τραγικός (tragikós, “of or relating to tragedy”), from τράγος (trágos, “male goat”), a reference to the goat-satyrs of the theatrical plays of the Dorians.

## AI Etymology
Tragic is from Ancient Greek τραγικός (tragikós, “of or relating to tragedy”), from τράγος (trágos, “male goat”), a reference to the goat-satyrs of the theatrical plays of the Dorians. The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *terh₁-. In present-day use, it can mean very sad, especially because it involves death or suffering, or relating to tragedy as a type of serious play.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Theater & Performance

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