rhapsodist

[ rap-suh-dist ]

noun

1. a person who rhapsodizes.
2. (in ancient Greece) a person who recited epic poetry, especially professionally.

ˈrhapsodist

/ ˈræpsədɪst /

noun

1. a person who speaks or writes rhapsodies
2. a person who speaks with extravagant enthusiasm
3. Alsorhapsodeˈræpsəʊd (in ancient Greece) a professional reciter of poetry, esp of Homer

Derived Forms

• ˌrhapsoˈdistic, adjective

Other Words From

• rhapso·distic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhapsodist¹

1640–50; < Greek rhapsōid ( ós ) rhapsodist ( rhaps-, variant stem of rháptein to stitch, + -ōid ( ē ) ode + -os noun suffix) + -ist

Example Sentences

Can we doubt that rhapsodist sang of such from earliest tribal times.

From New York Times

Even there, it was multifaceted: a three-part program that showed Mr. Iyer as social conscience, multimedia collaborator, system builder, rhapsodist, historical thinker and multicultural gateway.

From New York Times

Holding down the piano chair is Dan Tepfer, a meticulous young rhapsodist; the band’s front line consists of the saxophonists Greg Osby, Jaleel Shaw and Melissa Aldana.

From New York Times

Holding down the piano chair is Dan Tepfer, a meticulous young rhapsodist; the band’s front line consists of the saxophonists Greg Osby, Jaleel Shaw and Melissa Aldana.

From New York Times

So, for instance, there was the noise band Wolf Eyes, the cello improviser Okkyung Lee, the grindcore group Napalm Death, the rapper Gunplay, the post-minimal piano rhapsodist Lubomyr Melnyk, the free-jazz trio the Thing, and the electronic musician Tim Hecker, presented in overlapping sets, in three different parts of a 50,000-square-foot former door-frame factory.

From New York Times

Related Words

• artist
• author
• dramatist
• lyricist
• writer