A.tragedy, Ar.Ach.464, al., And.4.23, Arist. Po.1447a13, etc.; τ. ποιεῖν compose a tragedy, Ar.Ach.400, etc.; “κωμῳδίαν καὶ τ. ποιοῦντες” Pl.R.395a; “τραγῳδιῶν ποιηταί” OGI51.31 (Egypt, iii B. C.), cf. SIG 1079.3 (Magn. Mae., ii/i B. C.); “ποιητὴς τραγῳδιῶν” IG22.1132.38 = SIG 399.34 (Decr. Amphict., iii B. C.), OGI352.7 (Athens, ii B. C.), IG7.3197.28 (Orchom. Boeot.); π. τραγῳδίας ib. 416.27 (Oropus, i B. C.); τραγῳδίας διδάσκειν (cf. “διδάσκω” 111) D.L.1.59; “τραγῳδίᾳ διδάξαντα τὴν Μιλήτου ἅλωσιν” Plu.2.814b; ὀκτὼ τ. διαγωνίσασθαι to act in eight tragedies, ib.785c; “τῇ τ. νικᾶν” Pl.Smp.173a; expld. as 'goatsong', because a goat was the prize, Marm.Par.58, Sch.Hermog. in Rh.Mus.63.150; other explanations in EM764.1: cf. τρυγῳδία.
2. in a simile, “μίμησις τοῦ καλλίστου καὶ ἀρίστου βίου, ὃ δή φαμεν . . ὄντως εἶναι τραγῳδίαν τὴν ἀληθεστάτην” Pl.Lg.817b; “ἡ τοῦ βίου τ. καὶ κωμῳδία” Id.Phlb.50b.
II. generally, any grave, serious poetry, opp. κωμῳδία, hence Homer is called a writer of tragedy, Id.Tht.152e; cf. τραγικός, τραγῳδοποιός.
2. an exaggerated speech, Hyp.Lyc.12 (prob.l.), Eux.26: hence of descriptions of horrors, Plb.6.56.11, D.S.19.8, etc.
3. outward grandeur, pomp, Plu.Demetr.41, Arat.15, Ps.-Zaleuc. ap. Stob.4.2.19(pl.), Luc.Gall. 24; “τραγῳδίαν ἐπιθεῖναι τοῖς πράγμασιπροσποιητήν” D.H.6.70.
