[rhap.so.dy] n, pl -dies [L rhapsodia, fr. Gk rhapsoidia recitation of selections from epic poetry, rhapsody, fr. rhapsoidos rhapsodist, fr. rhaptein to sew, stitch together + aidein to sing--more at ode] (1542) 1: a portion of an epic poem adapted for recitation
2. archaic: a miscellaneous collection 3 a (1): a highly emotional utterance (2): a highly emotional literary work (3): effusively rapturous or extravagant discourse b: rapture, ecstasy
4: a musical composition of irregular form having an improvisatory character