rhapsody
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɹæpsədi/
Forms: form: rhapsodies
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”)
Senses: topics: communications
journalism
literature
media
poetry
publishing
writing
qualifier: Ancient Greece
glosses: An epic poem, or part of one, suitable for uninterrupted recitation.
examples: text: 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.
ref: 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:
glosses: An exaggeratedly enthusiastic or exalted expression of feeling in speech or writing.
raw_tags: with a negative connotation
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: An instrumental composition of irregular form, often incorporating improvisation.
examples: text: 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!
ref: 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:
text: This concerneth not those mingle-mangles of many kinds of stuffe, or as the Grecians call them Rapsodies, that for such are published[…].
ref: 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
text: He, that makes no reflexions on what he reads, only loads his mind with a rhapsody of tales fit for the entertainment of others.
ref: 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:
glosses: A random collection or medley; a miscellany; also, a confused string of stories, words, etc.
glosses: A literary composition consisting of miscellaneous works.
raw_tags: with a negative connotation
Derived terms: word: rhapsoder
english: partly
translation: partly
word: rhapsodic
english: partly
translation: partly
word: rhapsodical
word: rhapsodically
word: rhapsodised
word: rhapsodized
word: rhapsodise
word: rhapsodize
word: rhapsodism
word: rhapsodist
Related terms: word: rhapsode
english: partly
translation: partly
word: rhapsodic
english: partly
translation: partly
word: rhapsodical
word: rhapsodomancy