v. [f. TRAGEDY + -IZE: cf. harmon-ize, etc.]
1. trans. To act or perform as a tragedy; fig. to do or carry on tragically; in quot. 1593, to treat tragically, subject to a tragic fate.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 54. Like tragicke Seneca, I should tragedize my selfe, by bleeding to death in the depth of passion. Ibid. (1599), Lenten Stuffe, 47. The nurse … cowring, on the backeside whiles these things were a tragedizing.
1623. [see TRAGEDIZED].
1734. Grub St. Jrnl., 2 May, 1/3. As woeful a tragedy as ever was tragedized on the British stage.
1827. Blackw. Mag., XXI. 736. This assuredly not less tragical tragedy than any that ever was tragedized by a company of tragedians.
2. intr. To perform as a tragedian; fig. to act or speak in tragic style.
1756. Toldervy, Hist. 2 Orphans, IV. 105. If we do spend this money we can … tragedize for more.
1889. Farrar, Lives Fathers, II. xiii. 14. Oh air and Oh virtue!—for I will tragedise a little! [trans. Greg. Naz., Ep., v., More tragico exclamabo].
3. trans. To convert into a tragedy; to dramatize in tragic form.
1811. British Press, 19 Aug. The Comedy of Errors, tragedized.
a. 1849. H. Coleridge, Ess. (1851). II. 177. Modern critics, aping the nicety of Athens, which forbade the tragedising of recent history, may think [etc.].
Hence Tragedized ppl. a., Tragedizing vbl. sb.; also Tragedization, the action of tragedizing.
1623. Cockeram, Tragidized, killed.
1796. Sporting Mag., VII. 329. The tragedization of Edward the Black Prince.
