a. [f. TRAGI- + COMIC.] Having the character of a tragi-comedy; combining tragic with comic elements.
1683. Cave, Ecclesiastici, Athanasius, 81. The Tragy-Comick Scene of Arsenius the Meletian Bishop.
1709. Tatler, No. 68, ¶ 3. You have a Tragi-comick Genius.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 11. In viewing this monstrous tragi-comick scene, the most opposite passions … succeed … each other…; alternate laughter and tears; alternate scorn and horrour.
1831. Southey, in Q. Rev., XLIV. 276. A more tragi-comic history could not be imagined.
1840. New Monthly Mag., LVIII. 524. Screaming in ecstasy at the tragicomic termination of their attempt.
So Tragi-comical a., of tragi-comic character (hence Tragi-comicality, tragi-comic quality, or an instance of this; Tragi-comically adv., in a tragi-comical way). Also Tragi-comi-operatical, -pastoral adjs. (nonce-wds.), combining the qualities of tragi-comedy and opera (or pastoral).
1567. Fenton, Trag. Disc., xiii. Argt. (1898), 238. A *tragi-comiqual reaport.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 43. Some Poesies haue coupled together two or three kindes, as Tragicall and Comicall, wher-vpon is risen, the Tragi-comicall.
1627. (title) A Tragi-Comicall History of ovr Times, vnder the borrowed names of Lisander and Calista.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Leicester. (1662), II. 129. His tragi-comical life, had a peaceable End.
1878. H. James, Europeans, i. It was extremely clever, and full of a sort of tragicomical power.
1897. Q. Rev., Jan., 182. His butterfly *tragicomicalities of romance.
1733. J. Bramston, Man of Taste, 22. I was *tragi-comically got.
1902. Swinburne, in Q. Rev., July, 25. The dissolution of a ruined household is … tragicomically set before us.
c. 1778. Porson (title, in Daily Chron., 29 March (1902), 6/7), Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire … a *tragi-comi-operatical farce.
1714. Gay (title), The What d’ye call it: A *Tragi-Comi-Pastoral Farce.
1729. Hawker (title), The Wedding: A Tragi-Comi-Pastoral-Farcical Opera … The Overture, by Dr. Pepusch.
