Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Rhapsody"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Rhapsody \Rhap"so*dy\, n.; pl. {Rhapsodies}. [F. rhapsodie, L.
rhapsodia, Gr. "rapsw,di`a, fr. "rapsw,do`s a rhapsodist;
"ra`ptein to sew, stitch together, unite + 'w,dh` a song. See
{Ode}.]
1. A recitation or song of a rhapsodist; a portion of an epic
poem adapted for recitation, or usually recited, at one
time; hence, a division of the Iliad or the Odyssey; --
called also a {book}.
2. A disconnected series of sentences or statements composed
under excitement, and without dependence or natural
connection; rambling composition. ``A rhapsody of words.''
--Shak. ``A rhapsody of tales.'' --Locke.
3. (Mus.) A composition irregular in form, like an
improvisation; as, Liszt's ``Hungarian Rhapsodies.''
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
rhapsody
n : an epic poem adapted for recitation
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