noun
tragedian
truh-JEE-dee-un/trəˈdʒiːdiən/
An actor specializing in tragic drama.
The tragedian kneels beside a fallen crown and reaches outward.
Etymology
The word first named a writer of tragedies, then came to name an actor in them. The shift is from creating tragic drama to performing it.
In context
John Wilkes Booth third son of Edwin Booth the tragedian actor
More examples
- She trains as a tragedian but occasionally accepts comic roles.
- The company hires two tragedians for its season of Greek plays.
- His powerful performance as Macbeth establishes him as a leading tragedian.
Forms
tragedian · tragedians
tragedy noun — A serious play with an unhappy ending.
Similar words
- actor
- Actor covers all dramatic roles, not only tragic ones.
- performer
- Performer includes entertainers outside acting, such as dancers and musicians.