tragedy

Where does the word "tragedy" come from? It comes from Greek tragoidia, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Tragedy’s story begins in Greek: tragoidia meant “goat song.” Literally "goat song", possibly linked to prizes or sacrifices of goats. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as tragoedia. Adopted for serious dramatic works with unhappy endings. From there it passed into Old French as tragedie by medieval. Carried the dramatic genre into French. It reached English by medieval as tragedy. Settled as the English word for the dramatic genre. Today, tragedy means a serious drama with an unhappy ending, or a disastrous event.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient tragoidia "goat song", literally "goat song", possibly linked to prizes or sacrifices of goats.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient tragoedia "a serious drama", adopted for serious dramatic works with unhappy endings.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval tragedie "a serious drama", carried the dramatic genre into French.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval tragedy "a serious drama with an unhappy ending", settled as the English word for the dramatic genre.