adj. 1 (also tragical) sad; calamitous; greatly distressing (a tragic tale). 2 of, or in the style of, tragedy (tragic drama; a tragic actor). tragic irony a device, orig. in Greek tragedy, by which words carry a tragic, esp. prophetic, meaning to the audience, unknown to the character speaking. tragically adv.
[ F tragique f. L tragicus f. Gk tragikos f. tragos goat: see TRAGEDY ]