tragoedia Latin · revision 699

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [traˈɡoe̯.di.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [traˈd͡ʒɛː.di.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''tragoedia''' ''f'' (genitive tragoediae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|τραγῳδία|tr=tragōidía|t=tragedy]],^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary) literally “goat song”, from [[m|grc|τράγος|tr=trágos|t=he-goat]] and [[m|grc|ᾠδή|tr=ōidḗ|t=song]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Beekes takes ''trágos'' as “gnawer” and the compound as modelled on [[grc|ῥαψῳδός|tr=rhapsōidós|t=rhapsode]], and the reason for the goat is uncertain.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found in the prologue of Plautus' ''Amphitruo'', which plays on the word [[m|en|tragedy]] and the coinage ''tragicomoedia''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates it from Cicero.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word meant a tragedy, a play, and the art of tragedy, which Horace calls the “stern Muse” and Ovid personifies.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Figuratively it meant a mock-tragic performance or a scene of great commotion, and in the plural histrionics or high-flown language, as in Cicero's ''neque istis tragoediis tuis perturbor'' “I am not upset by your heroics”.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Quintilian warns against stirring up ''tragoediae'' in small lawsuits.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In Neo-Latin it also meant a misfortune or calamity.^(Ramminger) Through French it gave [[en|tragedy]] in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus jokes about tragedy and comedy in the ''Amphitruo''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for tragedies and for histrionics.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace speaks of the Muse of tragedy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it for overblown pathos in court.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – Through French it gives [[en|tragedy]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|tragedy]] (play); the art of tragedy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A mock-tragic scene; a commotion, (plural) histrionics, high-flown language.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(New Latin)'' A misfortune.^(Ramminger)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tragicōmoedia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|tragedy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}