Discover tragic figure, forlorn at the last (5)
I believe the answer is:
learn
'discover' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'tragic figure forlorn at the last' is the wordplay.
'tragic figure' becomes 'lear' (from Shakespeare's King Lear).
'at the last' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'forlorn' is 'n'.
'lear'+'n'='LEARN'
(Other definitions for learn that I've seen before include "Acquire information" , "Study - find out" , "Acquire 28 across" , "Absorb as knowledge, from book or experience" , "Read up on" .)