tragedian

American  

[truh-jee-dee-uhn] / trəˈdʒi di ən /

noun

1. an actor especially noted for performing tragic roles.

2. a writer of tragedy.

---

tragedian British  

/ trəˈdʒiːdɪən, trəˌdʒiːdɪˈɛn /

noun

1. an actor who specializes in tragic roles

2. a writer of tragedy

---

Etymology

Origin of tragedian

1325–75; tragedy + -an; replacing Middle English tragedien < Middle French

Example Sentences

She is, however, a compelling tragedian — a teen who matures before our eyes into a force of nature.

From Los Angeles Times

By the 4th century BCE, Athenian orators even quoted lines from the tragedians in court, knowing that jurors “liked quotations from tragedy,” in one scholar’s words.

From Salon

Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov, Beckett, the ancient Greek tragedians and Tennessee Williams were among the voices who originally called out to me.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the tragedians, there are extant works from only three: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides.

From New York Times

If the best description of a play had been coined centuries earlier by Shakespeare or a Greek tragedian, Scully would not shy from quoting the master.

From Washington Post