rhapsody en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈɹæpsədi/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
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. Cognates * French rhapsodie (“instrumental composition of irregular form”) * German Rhapsodie (“instrumental composition of irregular form”)
Meanings
- (historical, qualifier:Ancient Greece) An epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation.
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(broadly, sometimes, with a negative connotation) 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.
1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
- (broadly) An instrumental composition of irregular form, often incorporating improvisation.
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(archaic, broadly) A random collection or medley; a miscellany; also, a confused string of stories, words, etc.
This concerneth not those mingle-mangles of many kinds of stuffe, or as the Grecians call them Rapsodies, that for such are published[…].
1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:He, that makes no reflexions on what he reads, only loads his mind with a rhapsody of tales fit for the entertainment of others.
a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC, page 49: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!
c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], lines 41-48:
- (broadly, obsolete, sometimes, with a negative connotation) A literary composition consisting of miscellaneous works.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| rhapsodies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
rhapsodise · rhapsodically · rhapsodized · rhapsodised · rhapsoder · rhapsodist · rhapsodical · rhapsodic · rhapsodize · rhapsodism
Relateds
rhapsodomancy · rhapsodic · rhapsodical · rhapsode
Translations (52)
nb rapsodi (instrumental composition of irregular form) · nl rapsodie (instrumental composition of irregular form) · az rapsodiya (instrumental composition of irregular form) · be рапсо́дыя (instrumental composition of irregular form) · sv rapsodi (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · hy ռապսոդիա (instrumental composition of irregular form) · et rapsoodia (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ca rapsòdia (instrumental composition of irregular form) · hu rapszódia (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ja 狂詩曲 (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · sk rapsódia (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · ja ラプソディ (instrumental composition of irregular form) · sh ра̀псо̄дија (instrumental composition of irregular form) · de Rhapsodie (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ga rosc ceoil (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · vo kobostukot (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · grc ῥαψῳδία (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · eo rapsodio (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ko 랩소디 (instrumental composition of irregular form) · cmn 狂想曲 (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · ro rapsodie (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ko 광시곡 (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · pt rapsódia (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · da rapsodi (instrumental composition of irregular form) · sh ràpsōdija (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ja ラプソディ (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · fi rapsodia (instrumental composition of irregular form) · uk рапсо́дія (instrumental composition of irregular form) · bg рапсо́дия (instrumental composition of irregular form) · la rhapsōdia (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · pl rapsodia (instrumental composition of irregular form) · tl rapsodya (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · es rapsodia (instrumental composition of irregular form) · kk рапсодия (instrumental composition of irregular form) · sv rapsodi (instrumental composition of irregular form) · es rapsodia (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · ru рапсо́дия (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · fi rapsodia (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · lt rapsodija (instrumental composition of irregular form) · he רפסודיה (instrumental composition of irregular form) · pt rapsódia (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ms rapsodi (instrumental composition of irregular form) · fr rhapsodie (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ko 광상곡 (instrumental composition of irregular form) · cmn 狂想曲 (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ru рапсо́дия (instrumental composition of irregular form) · pl rapsod (ancient Greek epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation) · el ραψωδία (instrumental composition of irregular form) · cs rapsodie (instrumental composition of irregular form) · it rapsodia (instrumental composition of irregular form) · ja 狂詩曲 (instrumental composition of irregular form) · nn rapsodi (instrumental composition of irregular form)