Make Your Point > Archived Issues > RHAPSODY

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connect today's word to others: Whether it's an ancient Greek epic poem or Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," a rhapsody is recited with poetic flair and vigorous zeal. The rhapsodist, the person who's rhapsodizing, is literally someone who "weaves songs," and a rhapsody is, more or less, a "woven song." Isn't that lovely? And it explains why rhapsody looks a bit like the words ode, prosody, parody (literally "parallel song"), comedy ("festival song"), and tragedy ("goat song"--yeah, that one's puzzling; theories abound). Here's the closest synonym of rhapsodize that we've studied: to p____ate, literally "to speak or plead to the end," is to speak in a grand, showy, dramatic way. (Hint: delete the first three letters of p____ate and you get a word that means "to speak to a crowd, often in a pompous way.") (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "RHAPSODY" Originally, in ancient Greece, a rhapsody was part of an epic poem that was recited out loud. Today, in general, a rhapsody is something said or written that's full of exaggerated enthusiasm. And, rhapsody can also simply mean exaggerated enthusiasm (usually expressed in words). And, to rhapsody, or to rhapsodize, is to speak or write about something with exaggerated enthusiasm. Pronunciation: RAP suh dee Part of speech: Both a noun (the countable kind: "a rhapsody," "these rhapsodies") and a verb. As a verb, it's both the transitive kind ("He rhapsodied, 'Your eyes are emeralds.'") and the intransitive kind ("we rhapsodied," "they rhapsody on it," "he rhapsodies about it"). Other forms: The plural is "rhapsodies." The other verb forms are "rhapsodied" and "rhapsodying." Although "rhapsody" is a verb, an alternate verb--and the one we use more often--is "rhapsodize:" "rhapsodized," "rhapsodizing."  For an adjective, use "rhapsodic" (rap SOD ick) or "rhapsodical" (rap SOD ick ull). The adverb is "rhapsodically." And people who rhapsodize are "rhapsodists." How to use it: This word can have a positive tone, but often if we're calling something a rhapsody, we're suggesting that it's too emotional, too enthusiastic, that the person delivering the rhapsody is being unrealistic, love-drunk on whatever idea they're rhapsodizing about. Talk about someone's rhapsody on or about or over some topic. Or talk about the people and things that inspire rhapsodies. Or, talk about people composing, delivering, hearing, enjoying, or criticizing rhapsodies. Sometimes we'll use "of:" "a rhapsody of disbelief," "a rhapsody of the American spirit." You can also talk about "rhapsody" as the quality of joy, happiness, and exaggerated enthusiasm: "the song is full of rhapsody," "we were startled by the rhapsody in her voice." Let's check out the adjectives, too. Talk about rhapsodic people, speeches, sayings, expressions, wishes, compliments, descriptions, and so on. You can say that people are rhapsodic on or about some topic, or that they wax rhapsodic about something, etc. Or, talk about rhapsodic moods, music, poetry, rhythms, celebrations, emotions (like zeal or enthusiasm), etc. When should you pick "rhapsodical" instead of "rhapsodic"? Probably when you're emphasizing the silliness or inappropriateness of someone's gushing enthusiasm. "There's no need to wax rhapsodical; God's neat, let's eat." examples: If the novel veers into rhapsodical descriptions of the weather, that's my cue to skim. "There is no accounting for taste, and I’ll be frank about my own: I find the vast majority of food writing, with its sentimentality, fatuous rhapsodies, and delusions of self-importance, silly."    — Laura Miller, Slate, 12 July 2017 study it: Explain the meaning of "rhapsody" without saying "enthusiasm" or "gushing." try it out: Fill in the blank: "I've rhapsodized often about _____." Example: "I've rhapsodized often about the quality of the Pixel's camera." before you review, play: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game is "TV Tropes!" This month, we're playing with tropes from TVTropes.org. TV tropes are storytelling devices, which can come from any source of fiction—TV, movies, books, you name it. They're the archetypes, the story patterns, the plot devices, the cheap tricks, the situational clichés that we see over and over throughout fiction.  Examples of TV tropes include "Skyward Scream," "Banister Slide," "Caught on the Jumbotron," "Burp of Finality," "City People Eat Sushi," "Dance Party Ending," "Clean Pretty Childbirth," "Come Back to Bed, Honey," "Even the Subtitler is Stumped," and tens of thousands more. Naming a trope can be a straightforward business, as in the "Skyward Scream." But often it demands precision, inviting the use of humorously sophisticated terms. Enter our Make Your Point words.  In each issue this month, consider the name of a TV trope, and try to define it or even give an example from a TV show or other work of fiction. From the previous issue: In fiction, what is the trope known as Idiosyncratic Episode Naming? Answer: It's when episodes are named in a way that appeals specifically to the fans. For example, in Friends, episode are titled in the way that fans would refer to them when talking with their friends, such as "The One With the Cake." Try this today: In fiction, most notably cartoons, what is the trope known as Drool Deluge? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of RHAPSODY is A. DIATRIBE. B. GRACE NOTE. C. IMPUNITY. 2. Clean Bandit sings: "A rhapsody for you and me, and every _____ is _____." A. note .. muted B. melody .. timeless C. sound .. melancholy Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. B