Also 4–5 tragedyen, -ien, (tregedien), 7–8 tragœdian. [ME., prob. a. OF. tragediane (1372 in Hatz.-Darm.), later and mod.F. tragédien, f. tragédie TRAGEDY: see -AN.]
1. A dramatist who composes a tragedy or tragedies; a tragic poet or author.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. pr. vi. 60 (Camb. MS.). A tragedyen [v.r. tregedien] þat is to seyn a makere of ditees þat hyhten tragedies.
a. 1631. Donne, Poems (1633), 165. Under this curled marble … Sleepe rare Tragedian Shakespeare, sleepe alone.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 261. What the lofty grave Tragœdians taught In Chorus or Iambic.
1875. Scrivener, Lect. Text N. Test., 6. The dramas of the Greek tragedian Æschylus.
2. A stage-player who performs in tragedy; a tragic actor.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse (ed. 2), 26 b. The Tragedian that represents his person.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 342. What Players are they? Rosin. … The Tragedians of the City.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., II. iii. I will not swell, like a Tragedian, in forced passion of affected straines.
1693. Dryden, Persius’ Sat., V. 3. The well-lung’d Tragedians Rage.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 40. ad fin. Mr. Powell … is excellently formed for a Tragœdian.
1870. L’Estrange, Miss Mitford, I. vi. 200. No man can be a perfect tragedian who is not likewise a good actor in the higher branch of comedy.
† 3. fig. A person concerned in a ‘tragedy’ or dreadful calamity; the victim, or inflicter, of a tragic fate. Obs.
1592. Warner, Alb. Eng., IX. xlv. (1612), 214. The Tragedies and Tytles too of English Dukes did cease, Which Thomas, Duke of Norffolke, last Tragedian did increase.
1635. R. Johnson, Hist. Tom a Lincoln (1825), 131. The Blacke Knight stayed from his desperate resolution, and from a bloody tragedian became the recoverer of his brothers life.
Hence Tragedianess (nonce-wd.), a female tragedian.
1822. Blackw. Mag., XII. 657. Was there to be a virtual non-imprimatur in force against our songstresses, romance-inditresses, tragedianesses, sonneteeresses?
