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rhapsody

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
17
Words With Friends
16
Letters
8
Pronunciation
/ˈɹæpsədi/

Definition of rhapsody

8 senses · 2 parts of speech · etymology included

noun

  1. (historical)An epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation.
See all 8 definitions

noun

  1. (historical)An epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation.
  2. (broadly, sometimes)An exaggeratedly enthusiastic or exalted expression of feeling in speech or writing.
    “Of course here Mr. Pen went off into a rhapsody through which, as we have perfect command over our own feelings, we have no reason to follow the lad. Of course, love, truth, and eternity were produced: and words were tried but found impossible to plumb the tremendous depth of his affection.”
  3. (broadly)An instrumental composition of irregular form, often incorporating improvisation.
  4. (archaic, broadly)A random collection or medley; a miscellany; also, a confused string of stories, words, etc.
    “Such an act / That blurs the grace and blush of modesty; / Calls virtue hypocrite; takes off the rose / From the fair forehead of an innocent love / And sets a blister there; makes marriage vows / As false as dicers' oaths; O, such a deed / As from the body of contraction plucks / The very soul, and sweet religion makes / A rhapsody of words!”
    “This concerneth not those mingle-mangles of many kinds of stuffe, or as the Grecians call them Rapsodies, that for such are published[…].”
    “He, that makes no reflexions on what he reads, only loads his mind with a rhapsody of tales fit for the entertainment of others.”
  5. (broadly, obsolete, sometimes)A literary composition consisting of miscellaneous works.

verb

  1. (transitive)Synonym of rhapsodize.
  2. (obsolete, rare, transitive)Synonym of rhapsodize.
  3. (intransitive)Synonym of rhapsodize.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

The noun is derived from Latin rhapsōdia (“part of an epic poem suitable for uninterrupted recitation”), from Koine Greek ῥαψῳδία (rhapsōidía, “part of an epic poem suitable for uninterrupted recitation;…

See full etymology

The noun is derived from Latin rhapsōdia (“part of an epic poem suitable for uninterrupted recitation”), from Koine Greek ῥαψῳδία (rhapsōidía, “part of an epic poem suitable for uninterrupted recitation; rigmarole”), Ancient Greek ῥαψῳδία (rhapsōidía, “composition or recitation of Epic poetry”), from ῥαψῳδός (rhapsōidós, “composer or performer of Epic poetry”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). Ῥαψῳδός (Rhapsōidós) is derived from ῥᾰ́πτω (rhắptō, “to sew”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *werb- (“to bend; to turn”)) + ᾠδή (ōidḗ, “ode; song”) (ultimately from Proto-Hellenic *awoidā́ (“song”)) + -ος (-os, suffix forming o-grade action nouns). Sense 2.2 (“instrumental composition of irregular form”) probably developed from sense 2.1 (“exaggeratedly enthusiastic or exalted expression of feeling in speech or writing”), and both of these senses may have been influenced by rapture (“extreme excitement, happiness, or pleasure”), the latter being a quality associated with the senses. Sense 2.3 (“literary composition consisting of miscellaneous works”) is borrowed from Middle French rhapsodie (modern French rhapsodie), from Latin rhapsōdia: see above. The verb is derived from the noun. Cognates * French rhapsodie (“instrumental composition of irregular form”) * German Rhapsodie (“instrumental composition of irregular form”)

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