different between tragic vs pitiful

English

Alternative forms

• tragick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ???????? (tragikós, “of or relating to tragedy”), from ?????? (trágos, “male goat”), a reference to the goat-satyrs of the theatrical plays of the Dorians.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?æd??k/
• Rhymes: -æd??k

Adjective

tragic (comparative more tragic, superlative most tragic)

1. Causing great sadness or suffering.
2. Relating to tragedy in a literary work.
3. (in tabloid newspapers) Having been the victim of a tragedy.
   • 2008, Search for tragic Madeleine McCann over (in The Daily Telegraph of Australia, 14 February 2008) [2]
   • 2012, Gary Meneely, Keano’s tribute to tragic James (in The Irish Sun, 25 June 2012) [3]

Derived terms

• tragic flaw

Related terms

• tragicomic
• tragical
• tragically

Translations

Noun

tragic (plural tragics)

1. (Australia, colloquial) An obsessive fan, a superfan
   • 2011 March 31. James Macsmith "General Russell Crowe and his Rabbitoh minions" CNN Travel:

     Within the club itself, Crowe is regarded not only as a benefactor but as a fanatic -- a Rabbitohs tragic.

   • 2013 March 13. Ricky Stuart, quoted in "Doping scandal is overwhelming league: Stuart":

     I'm a fan of rugby league. I'm a tragic of rugby league.

   • 2013 August 28. Kent Steedman, The Guardian "The Knowledge: Rifled In"

     Damian was/is a football tragic, the rest of us just like it to varying degrees.

   • 2015 March 29. Jermaine, Wharf Hotel website WE DON'T LIKE FOOTBALL - WE LOVE IT!

     Footy's back and as I'm a footy tragic it means I'm one very happy man.

2. (obsolete) A writer of tragedy.
3. (obsolete) A tragedy; a tragic drama.

Romanian

Etymology

From French tragique, from Latin tragicus.

Adjective

tragic m or n (feminine singular tragic?, masculine plural tragici, feminine and neuter plural tragice)

1. tragical

Declension

English

Alternative forms

• pitifull (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English pityful, piteful, piteeful, equivalent to pity +? -ful.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?t.?.fl?/

Adjective

pitiful (comparative pitifuller, superlative pitifullest)

1. (now rare) Feeling pity; merciful.
   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick:

     Straightway, he now goes on to make a full confession; whereupon the mariners became more and more appalled, but still are pitiful.

2. So appalling or sad that one feels or should feel sorry for it; eliciting pity.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:lamentable

3. Of an amount or number: very small.

Related terms

• pitiable
• pity

Translations

Adverb

pitiful (comparative more pitiful, superlative most pitiful)

1. (colloquial, dialect) In a pitiful manner; pitifully; piteously; pathetically.

Translations