Rhapsody
noun /ˈræpsədi/ — An ecstatic expression of enthusiasm, feeling, or delight.
Definition
An expression of ecstatic enthusiasm or feeling, especially in writing or speech; also a musical composition of irregular, expressive form — music that follows the feeling rather than the form.
Beyond the definition
To go into rhapsodies is to let the emotion spill over its usual containers. The word contains 'rapture': something seized you, carried you, and you let it. Rhapsody is what happens when ordinary registers of communication simply aren't enough.
Origin & history
Greek 'rhapsoidia' — a song sung by a rhapsode (one who stitches songs together), from 'rhaptein' (to stitch) + 'oide' (song). In ancient Greece, rhapsodes performed epic poetry by heart.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She went into rhapsodies about the food — each dish a new paragraph of joy.
The piece was a musical rhapsody — emotional, unpredictable, unmistakably alive.
He didn't often rhapsodise, but when he did, the whole room stopped to listen.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Rhapsody” when the meaning fits your context: An expression of ecstatic enthusiasm or feeling, especially in writing or speech; also a musical composition of irregular, expressive form — music that follows the feeling rather than the form.
Synonyms
Antonyms
restraint, understatement
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Rhapsody" mean?
Rhapsody is noun meaning: An ecstatic expression of enthusiasm, feeling, or delight.. An expression of ecstatic enthusiasm or feeling, especially in writing or speech; also a musical composition of irregular, expressive form — music that follows the feeling rather than the form.
Where does the word "Rhapsody" come from?
Greek 'rhapsoidia' — a song sung by a rhapsode (one who stitches songs together), from 'rhaptein' (to stitch) + 'oide' (song). In ancient Greece, rhapsodes performed epic poetry by heart.