tragedian

From Middle English tragedyen, from Old French tragediane (French tragédien), equivalent to tragedy +‎ -ian.

• (US) IPA^(key): /tɹəˈd͡ʒidiən/

tragedian (plural tragedians)

1. An actor who specializes in tragic roles.
   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 261:

     Euen thoſe you were wont to take such delight in the Tragedians of the City.

   • 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter LXVI, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:

     And as for the separation scene from the child, while Becky was reciting it, Emmy retired altogether behind her pocket-handkerchief, so that the consummate little tragedian must have been charmed to see the effect which her performance produced on her audience.

   • 1902, Thomas Ebenezer Webb, The Mystery of William Shakespeare: A Summary of Evidence, page 242:

     Greene died of a debauch; and Marlowe, the gracer of tragedians, perished in an ignominious brawl.

2. A playwright who writes tragedies.

• tragedist

• comedian

• tragedienne

• argandite

• IPA^(key): /traɡeˈdian/

tragedian

1. accusative singular of tragedia

tragedian

1. genitive singular of tragedia

Borrowed from French tragédien.

tragedian m (plural tragedieni, feminine equivalent tragediană)

1. tragedian