rhapsody
/ˈɹæpsədi/ noun, verb
Forms rhapsodies rhapsodying rhapsodied
- noun (Ancient Greece, poetry, historical) An epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation.
- noun (sometimes with a negative connotation) An exaggeratedly enthusiastic or exalted expression of feeling in speech or writing.
- noun (music) An instrumental composition of irregular form, often incorporating improvisation.
- noun (archaic) A random collection or medley; a miscellany; also, a confused string of stories, words, etc.
- noun (sometimes with a negative connotation, obsolete) A literary composition consisting of miscellaneous works.
- verb To say (something) with exaggerated or rapturous enthusiasm.
- verb (obsolete, rare) To perform (a rhapsody (“an epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation”))
- verb (intransitive) Followed by about, on, over, or upon: to speak with exaggerated or rapturous enthusiasm.
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”) + -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.
* French rhapsodie (“instrumental composition of irregular form”)
* German Rhapsodie (“instrumental composition of irregular form”)
Webster’s 1913
- noun A recitation or song of a rhapsodist; a portion of an epic poem adapted for recitation, or usually recited, at one time; hence, a division of the Iliad or the Odyssey; --called also a book.
- noun A disconnected series of sentences or statements composed under excitement, and without dependence or natural connection; rambling composition. "A rhapsody of words." Shak. "A rhapsody of tales." Locke.
Etymology [F. rhapsodie, L. rhapsodia, Gr. Ode.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “rhapsody”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details