\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}.]
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.
         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.
         All our tragedies are of kings and princes. --Jer.
                                               Taylor.
         tragedy is poetry in its deepest earnest; comedy is
         poetry in unlimited jest.             --Coleridge.
2. A fatal and mournful event; any event in which human lives
   are lost by human violence, more especially by
   unauthorized violence.