What does rhapsodic mean?
Rhapsodic means marked by rhapsody: intense enthusiasm, emotional richness, and an irregular, expansive flow of expression. The word is especially associated with music, but it can also characterize speech or writing that sounds excited, lyrical, or overflowing. A rhapsodic performance may inspire listeners with its passion and vividness, while a critical description might use the term to suggest that the emotion is extravagant or excessive. Its tone is generally formal and expressive rather than casual. The word is related to rhapsody, which originally referred to a stitched collection of sung epic poems, and to the Greek tradition of poets known as rhapsodes, who recited those poems publicly. Today, rhapsodic is valued for its ability to suggest both artistic intensity and a kind of abandonment to emotion.
adjectiveCharacteristic of a rhapsody, especially expressive with passionate, extravagant, or irregularly varied enthusiasm.
- Of or characteristic of a rhapsody; marked by passionate, extravagant, or irregularly varied expression.
"Her rhapsodic account of the concert made everyone feel as though they had witnessed a revelation."
"Her rhapsodic account of the concert made everyone feel as though they had witnessed a revelation."
"The film's rhapsodic score blends orchestral grandeur with fragments of folk music."
Rhapsodic literally carries the Greek idea of “stitching songs together”—a fitting metaphor for a mind swept away by music or language.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rhapsodic come from?
Rhapsodic is derived from rhapsody, which comes through Latin from Greek rhapōidia, a term associated with the stitching together of songs. Its Greek elements combine rhaptein, “to stitch,” and aoide, “song,” reflecting the practice of reciting epic verse. The English adjective developed through the suffix -ic, meaning “of the nature of” or “characterized by.”
Related word forms
How rhapsodic is actually used
Usually literary or art-critical. It may describe music, speech, or prose that is emotionally exuberant and free-flowing; depending on context, it can suggest grandeur or excessive enthusiasm.