a. (sb.) [f. L. tragic-us (see prec.) + -AL: see -ICAL. In earlier use than tragic or F. tragique.]
1. Of the nature of, or resembling tragedy in respect of its matter; relating to or expressing fatal or dreadful events; = TRAGIC a. 2.
Cf. F. tragique, ‘tragicall, tragicke,… bloudie, deadlie, dolefull, dismall’ (Cotgr.), It. tragico, ‘tragicall, dismall, deadly’ (Florio).
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, liv. 213. The vnfortunate report and tragicall tidings.
1596. Edward III., V. i. 105. So must my voice be tragicall againe, And I must sing of dolefull accidents.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., I. 43. Eusebius was an eye-witnesse of these things, who tels a most tragicall story hereof.
1828. Duppa, Trav. Italy, etc. 150. It represents the tragical fable of Hippolytus.
† 2. Appropriate to or befitting tragedy; having the elevated or dignified style of tragedy; serious and stately; also, affectedly elevated, grandiose, pompous; (of language) grandiloquent, rhetorical, extravagant; (of aspect or manner) grave, formidable; = TRAGIC 1 c. Obs. (exc. as involved in 1 or 3).
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Mark xii. 78. What with their magnifik and hye titles, and what with their tragicall and masking apparell, as though they had bene almost god almighties peeres.
1565. Jewel, Def. Apol., II. xiii. (1611), 255. He … would thinke these Tragical termes should beare some weight. For sober men seldome vse thus to cry without some cause.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 137. I would haue tragical and stately stile shunned.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. i. 125. Why looke you still so sterne, and tragicall?
1673. Lady’s Call., II. iii. § 2. Those tragical furies wherewith some women seem transported.
b. Excited with tragic feeling.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Massacre Paris, II. vi. Though I seem mild and calm, Think not but I am tragical within.
1887. Miss Braddon, Like & Unlike, i. It will never do for Valentine to surprise us in this tragical mood.
3. = TRAGIC a. 3.
1555. Eden, Decades, 144. The turmoyles and tragicall affayres of the Ocean.
1644. [H. Parker], Jus Pop., 22. The latter part of Neroes tragicall raign.
1716. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Lady Rich, 1 Dec. The tragical end of an only son.
1784. P. Wright, New Bk. Martyrs, 797/1. I shall want assistance to help me upon this tragical stage [the scaffold].
1871. Morley, Crit. Misc., Ser. I. Condorcet (1878), 35. A destiny … as tragical as any in those bloody and most tragical days.
† 4. = TRAGIC a. 1. Obs.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. xi. (Arb.), 41. They set forth the dolefull falles of infortunate and afflicted Princes, and were called Poets Tragicall.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., V. i. 57. A tedious breefe Scene of yong Piramus, And his loue Thisby; very tragicall mirth. Ibid., 66. A play there is, my Lord,… And tragicall … it is: For Piramus therein doth kill himselfe.
1629. Wadsworth, Pilgr., v. 47. They made a Tragicall-Comedy of our voyage, whereby they got much money and honour.
† B. sb. A tragical story or strain. Obs. rare.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, XIX. 75. Hauing heard the Tragicall or what was become of them … they redoubled their griefes.
1621. Brathwait, Nat. Embassie (1877), 119. Terpnus … did … sing on his Lute these wofull tragicalls.
