rhapsody
[ rap-suh-dee ]
/ ˈræp sə di /
noun, plural rhap·so·dies.
Music.
an instrumental composition irregular in form and suggestive of improvisation.
an ecstatic expression of feeling or enthusiasm.
an epic poem, or a part of such a poem, as a book of the Iliad, suitable for recitation at one time.
a similar piece of modern literature.
an unusually intense or irregular poem or piece of prose.
Archaic.
a miscellaneous collection; jumble.
Origin of rhapsody
1535–45; < Latin
rhapsōdia < Greek
rhapsōidía recital of epic poetry, equivalent to
rhapsōid(ós)
rhapsodist +
-ia
-y3
Words nearby rhapsody
rhamphotheca,
rhanja,
rhapsodic,
rhapsodist,
rhapsodize,
rhapsody,
rhapsody in blue,
rhatany,
rhathymia,
rhazes,
rhd
Example sentences from the Web for rhapsody
British Dictionary definitions for rhapsody
rhapsody
/ (ˈræpsədɪ) /
noun plural -dies
music
a composition free in structure and highly emotional in character
an expression of ecstatic enthusiasm
(in ancient Greece) an epic poem or part of an epic recited by a rhapsodist
a literary work composed in an intense or exalted style
rapturous delight or ecstasy
obsolete
a medley
Word Origin for rhapsody
C16: via Latin from Greek
rhapsōidia, from
rhaptein to sew together +
ōidē song