tragedic

English

Etymology

From tragedy +‎ -ic.

Adjective

tragedic (comparative more tragedic, superlative most tragedic)

1. Relating to tragedy, the genre.
   • 1971, Konstantin Mochulsky, Dostoevsky: His Life and Work, Princeton University Press, page vii:

     In 1911 the poet wrote a brilliant book in which he discusses three aspects of Dostoevsky's work: "Tragedic" (which we noted in our definition of "novel-tragedy"), "Mythological," and "Theological."

   • 1998, Robert Henke, “Pastoral as Tragicomedic in Italian and Shakespearean Drama”, in Michele Marrapodi, A. J. Hoenselaars, editors, The Italian World of English Renaissance Drama, University of Delaware Press, page 292:

     The capacity of pastoral to assimilate a tragedic apparatus is tested in Il pastor fido.

   • 2009, J. David Velleman, How We Get Along, Cambridge University Press, page 198:

     The emotions of fear and pity, in Aristotle's account of tragedic emotion, would therefore correspond to the beginning and ending in his account of tragedic plot.

   • 2012, Seth L. Schein, “Sophocles and Homer”, in Kirk Ormand, editor, A Companion to Sophocles, John Wiley & Sons, page 436:

     Nevertheless, the play also establishes him as an ethically compromised, fifth-century tragedic version of Achilles, much as its Odysseus is a late fifth-century tragedic version of his epic namesake.

Usage notes

The traditional term tragic has accumulated strongly negative overtones.

Antonyms

• comedic