Definition of tragic

The origin of the word "tragic" can be traced back to ancient Greek theatre. In Greek, the word "tragouedia" (τραγουΐδεια) referred to a type of theatrical performance where the plot revolved around a tragic hero. The term "tragos" (τραγatriλα) in Greek literally means "goat," and many believe that the word "tragic" may have originated from this as ancient Greek tragedies often featured a goat that was sacrificed to the gods at the beginning of the play. The tragedies were written by famous Greek playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, and were characterized by serious themes, such as the struggle between fate and free will, the nature of human suffering, and the conflict between gods and mortals. The word "tragic" eventually made its way into the English language, first appearing in Shakespeare's play "Hamlet." Today, the term "tragic" is commonly used to describe a event or situation that evokes feelings of seriousness, sadness, or misfortune.