tragedian
(trəˈdʒiːdɪən)
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 Shakes. 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 traˈgedianess (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? |