tragedy

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.
2. n. The genre made up of such works.
3. n. The art or theory of writing or producing these works.
4. n. A play, film, television program, or other narrative work that portrays or depicts calamitous events and has an unhappy but meaningful ending.
5. n. A disastrous event, especially one involving distressing loss or injury to life: an expedition that ended in tragedy, with all hands lost at sea.
6. n. A tragic aspect or element.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A dramatic poem or composition representing an important event or series of events in the life of some person or persons, in which the diction is grave and dignified, the movement impressive and stately, and the catastrophe unhappy; that form of drama which represents a somber or a pathetic character involved in a situation of extremity or desperation by the force of an unhappy passion. Types of these characters are found in Shakspere's Lady Macbeth and Ophelia, Rowe's Jane Shore, and Scott's Master of Ravenswood. Tragedy originated among the Greeks in the worship of the god Dionysus or Bacchus. A Greek tragedy consisted of two parts—the dialogue, which corresponded in its general features to the dramatic compositions of modern times; and the chorus, the tone of which was lyrical rather than dramatical, and which was meant to be sung, while the dialogue was to be recited.
2. n. [capitalized] Tragedy personified, or the Muse of tragedy. See cut under Melpomene.
3. n. A fatal event; a dreadful calamity.

Wiktionary

1. n. A drama or similar work, in which the main character is brought to ruin or otherwise suffers the extreme consequences of some tragic flaw or weakness of character.
2. n. The genre of such works, and the art of producing them.
3. n. A disastrous event, especially one involving great loss of life or injury.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. 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.
2. n. A fatal and mournful event; any event in which human lives are lost by human violence, more especially by unauthorized violence.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
2. n. drama in which the protagonist is overcome by some superior force or circumstance; excites terror or pity