Word Origin & History
tragic1540s, "calamitous, disastrous, fatal," shortened from tragical (late 15c.), modeled on L. tragicus, from Gk. tragikos "of or pertaining to tragedy," lit. "of or pertaining to a goat," and probably referring to a satyr impersonated by a goat singer or satyric actor (see
tragedy). Tragic flaw (1913) translates Gk. hamartia.