rhapsody n : an epic poem adapted for recitation

English

Etymology

From etyl la rhapsodia, from etyl grc ῥαψῳδία.

Pronunciation

• a UK /ˈɹapsədi/
• a US /ˈɻæpsədi/

Noun

1. An ancient Greek epic poem (or part of one) suitable for uninterrupted recitation.
2. A random collection or medley; a miscellany or confused string of stories, words etc.
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, vol. 1 p. 138:

     This concerneth not those mingle-mangles of many kinds of stuffe, or as the Grecians call them Rapsodies, that for such are published [...].

3. An exalted or exaggeratedly enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing.
4. An instrumental composition of irregular form often incorporating improvisation.

In art and literature, rhapsody may mean:

• Rhapsody (music), an enthusiastic instrumental composition of indefinite form
• Epic poem, or part of one, that is suitable for recitation at one time, such as a book of Homer's Odyssey

Rhapsody may also refer to:

Computer software

• Rhapsody (online music service)
• Rhapsody (mp3 player)
• Rhapsody (operating system), the code name for the Apple Macintosh operating system that eventually evolved into Mac OS X
• Rhapsody (scorewriter), a music notation program
• Rhapsody (IRC client), a text-mode IRC client

Contemporary entertainment

• Rhapsody (1954 film), based on the novel Maurice Guest and directed by Charles Vidor
• Rhapsody (comics), a Marvel Comics character
• Rhapsody (girl group), an Australian female duo
• Rhapsody of Fire (formerly "Rhapsody"), an Italian symphonic power metal band
• Rhapsody (2008 film), based on Sergei Rachmaninoff, directed by Bruce Beresford

Use in phrasings

• Rhapsody in Blue, a musical composition by George Gershwin
• Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (2000), a computer role-playing game for the PlayStation console
• Rhapsody: Child of Blood (1999), the first novel in Elizabeth Haydon's fantasy series, the Symphony of Ages
  • Rhapsody (The Symphony of Ages), the main character
• Bohemian Rhapsody, a song written by Freddie Mercury, originally recorded by the band Queen
• Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini op. 43'' (1934) for piano and orchestra, by Sergei Rachmaninoff
• Telelogic Rhapsody, a UML software tool

classic, classical music, concert music, concertino, concerto, concerto grosso, drool, fustian, heaven, highfalutin, lexiphanicism, longhair music, rant, rapture, rave, rhapsodize, rhetoric, rodomontade, semiclassical music, seventh heaven, sinfonietta, symphonia, symphonic music, symphonic ode, symphony, tone poem, transport