serendipity
noun
The occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way; a fortunate accident or pleasant surprise.
Etymology
Coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, inspired by the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip" (an old name for Sri Lanka), whose heroes made discoveries by accident.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"Meeting her future business partner at the coffee shop was pure serendipity."
- 2.
"Penicillin was discovered through serendipity when mold contaminated Fleming's petri dishes."
- 3.
"The serendipity of finding a rare book at a garage sale delighted the collector."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Serendip comes from the Arabic "Sarandib," which is derived from the Sanskrit "Simhaladvipa," meaning "Dwelling-Place-of-Lions Island" (Sri Lanka).
Word Game Tips
Letters: 11 letters (S, E, R, E, N, D, I, P, I, T, Y)
Scrabble Value: 17 points
Tip: Try building from common prefixes or suffixes when you spot these letters.
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