tragedy

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromτραγῳδία“epic play, tragedy”
2. Latin · derived fromtragoedia
3. Old French · derived fromtragedie
4. Middle English · inherited fromtragedie
5. English todaytragedy

From the Middle English tragedie, from the Old French tragedie, from the Latin tragoedia, from the Ancient Greek τραγῳδία (tragōidía, “epic play, tragedy”), from τράγος (trágos, “male goat”) + ᾠδή (ōidḗ, “song”), possibly a reference to the goat-satyrs of the theatrical plays of the Dorians, or according to Beekes possibly to a goat given as prize, though the etymology remains uncertain.