tragicomical

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

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

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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]