tragic

• tragick (obsolete)

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.

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɹæd͡ʒɪk/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ædʒɪk

tragic (comparative more tragic, superlative most tragic)

1. Causing great sadness or suffering.

   Synonyms: pitiful, rueful; see also Thesaurus:lamentable

   • 2012 March-April, Jan Sapp, “Race Finished”, in American Scientist‎^[1], volume 100, number 2, page 164:

     Few concepts are as emotionally charged as that of race. The word conjures up a mixture of associations—culture, ethnicity, genetics, subjugation, exclusion and persecution. But is the tragic history of efforts to define groups of people by race really a matter of the misuse of science, the abuse of a valid biological concept?

2. Relating to tragedy in a literary work.
3. (in tabloid newspapers) Having been the victim of a tragedy.
   • 2008 February 14, “Search for tragic Madeleine McCann over”, in The Daily Telegraph‎^[2], Australia:
   • 2012 June 25, Gary Meneely, “Keano's tribute to tragic James”, in The Irish Sun‎^[3]:
4. (informal, chiefly predicative) Cringeworthy; tryhard; unhip; embarrassing; hopeless; indicative of (or having) a chronic lack of self-awareness.

   That dress is tragic.

   He's pretty tragic these days, hanging out with people half his age.

• tragicomic
• tragical
• tragically

tragic (plural tragics)

1. (Australia, colloquial) An obsessive fan, a superfan
   • 2011 March 31, James Macsmith, “General Russell Crowe and his Rabbitoh minions”, in Travel, CNN:

     Within the club itself, Crowe is regarded not only as a benefactor but as a fanatic -- a Rabbitohs tragic.

   • 2013 March 13. Ricky Stuart, quoted in "Doping scandal is overwhelming league: Stuart":

     I'm a fan of rugby league. I'm a tragic of rugby league.

   • 2013 August 28, Kent Steedman, “The Knowledge: Rifled In”, in The Guardian:

     Damian was/is a football tragic, the rest of us just like it to varying degrees.

   • 2015 March 29. Jermaine, Wharf Hotel website WE DON'T LIKE FOOTBALL - WE LOVE IT!

     Footy's back and as I'm a footy tragic it means I'm one very happy man.

2. (obsolete) A writer of tragedy.
3. (obsolete) A tragedy; a tragic drama.

Borrowed from French tragique, from Latin tragicus.

tragic m or n (feminine singular tragică, masculine plural tragici, feminine and neuter plural tragice)

1. tragical