Tragicomic

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tragi-comic \Trag`i-com"ic\, Tragi-comical \Trag`i-com"ic*al\,
     a. [Cf. F. tragi-comique.]
     Of or pertaining to tragi-comedy; partaking of grave and
     comic scenes. -- {Trag`-com"ic*al*ly}, adv.
     [1913 Webster]
  


           Julian felt toward him that tragi-comic sensation which
           makes us pity the object which excites it not the less
           that we are somewhat inclined to laugh amid our
           sympathy.                                --Sir W.
                                                    Scott.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  tragicomic
       adj 1: of or relating to or characteristic of tragicomedy; "a
              playwright specializing in tragicomic drama"
       2: manifesting both tragic and comic aspects; "the tragicomic
          disparity...between's man's aspirations and his
          accomplishments"- B.R.Redman [syn: {tragicomical}]
       3: having pathetic as well as ludicrous characteristics; "her
          life...presented itself to me as a tragicomical
          adventure"--Joseph Conrad [syn: {tragicomical}]