felicitous
felicitous
Pronunciation
Here's the IPA phonetic spelling for "felicitous" along with a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
fe-li-ci-tous (fəˈlɪsɪtəs)
fe (fə):
Short "uh" sound like in "but"
li (ˈlɪ):
Alveolar lateral approximant (like the "l" sound)
Short "i" sound like in "bit"
ci (sɪ):
Voiced alveolar fricative (like the "s" sound)
Short "i" sound like in "bit"
tous (təs):
Alveolar plosive (like the "t" sound)
Schwa sound (a neutral, central vowel sound)
Unvoiced alveolar fricative (like the "s" sound)
Word Form Variations
"Felicitous" itself doesn't have variations based on singular or plural since it's an adjective. It describes a noun, not a quantity. However, it does have related forms you might find useful:
Adverb: Felicitously (feˈlɪsɪtəsli) - describes how something is done in a felicitous way.
Noun: Felicitousness (feˈlɪsɪtəsnəs) - describes the quality of being felicitous.
Antonyms (opposite words): Unfelicitous, infelicitous (with corresponding adverbs and nouns)
Comparatives and superlatives: More felicitous, most felicitous (though "highly felicitous" or "extremely felicitous" might be more common)
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA.
Register Now.
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA. Register Now.
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
NAdjective:
Definition: Perfectly suited or expressed for the occasion; apt and pleasing. (e.g., "The speaker's felicitous joke broke the tension in the room.")
Synonyms: appropriate, well-chosen, fitting, apt, delightful, pleasing
Antonyms: inappropriate, infelicitous, clumsy, awkward, tactless
Adverb (felicitously):
Definition: In a way that is well-suited or expressed for the occasion; aptly and pleasingly. (e.g., "She felicitously delivered the eulogy, capturing both the sadness of the loss and the joy of a life well-lived.")
Synonyms: appropriately, aptly, fittingly, well, delightfully, pleasingly
Antonyms: inappropriately, infelicitously, clumsily, awkwardly, tactlessly
Noun (felicitousness):
Definition: The quality of being well-suited or expressed for the occasion; aptness and pleasantness. (e.g., "The felicitousness of her writing made her a joy to read.")
Synonyms: appropriateness, aptness, fittingness, delightfulness, pleasantness
Antonyms: inappropriateness, infelicitousness, awkwardness, tactlessness
Examples of Use
Books:
"The detective's felicitous deduction cracked the case wide open." (Fictional detective novel)
Newspapers:
"The Queen's felicitous speech during the crisis calmed the nation." (News article about a royal address)
Online Publications:
"The reviewer praised the film's felicitous blend of humour and drama." (Movie review on a website)
Entertainment Mediums:
Movie: In the movie "The Princess Bride," Westley's "as you wish" response to Buttercup's every request could be considered felicitous, perfectly conveying his devotion.
TV Show: In a cooking competition show, a judge might commend a contestant on the "felicitous pairing" of unexpected flavours in their dish.
General Public Discourse:
"The neighbour's felicitous timing with the lawnmower meant I could finally enjoy some peace and quiet on my patio." (Casual conversation)
"The company's social media team received praise for their felicitous response to the customer complaint." (Online forum discussion)
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA.
Register Now.
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA. Register Now.
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Felicitous
Unfortunately, "felicitous" isn't as common in famous quotes as some other words. While the concept might be present, the specific word choice is less frequent. Here are some alternatives that capture a similar sentiment:
"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless." - Thomas Edison (This quote reflects the idea of finding unexpected benefits, similar to a felicitous outcome.)
"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen (The beauty emerging from flaws aligns with the idea of something fortunate arising from an unexpected place.)
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela (The ability to recover gracefully from setbacks mirrors a felicitous outcome.)
"Opportunity rarely knocks; it usually opens a door when you're knocking diligently." - Milton Berle (The fortunate discovery through effort echoes the essence of a felicitous situation.)
"A happy accident is no accident." - Alexander Fleming (The fortunate discovery of penicillin highlights the role of preparation meeting opportunity, similar to a felicitous outcome.)
"Sometimes you just have to trust the unknown. Let go and see what happens." - Catherine Pulsifer (The element of trusting a positive outcome aligns with the feeling of a felicitous situation.)
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller (The unexpected beauty found within experiences connects with the concept of a felicitous moment.)
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - Allen Saunders (The unexpected turns life takes can lead to positive outcomes, like a felicitous event.)
"There are no mistakes in life, only lessons." - Robin Sharma (Learning from unexpected situations aligns with the idea of finding something positive even in an unforeseen circumstance.)
"I never saw a diamond that wasn't rough." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (The idea of something valuable emerging from an unpolished state reflects the notion of a felicitous outcome arising from an unexpected place.)
Etymology
The word "felicitous" comes from a much older word in Latin, "felix." "Felix" simply meant "happy" or "lucky."
In the 1600s, people in England liked the idea of happiness and good fortune, so they borrowed "felix" and added the ending "-ous" to it. This "-ous" ending is kind of like a label that means "full of" or "having a lot of." So, they basically created a new word that meant "full of happiness" or "having a lot of luck."
Over time, the meaning of "felicitous" shifted a little bit. It still carries the idea of something positive, but now it's more about things that are well-suited for a situation or that turn out well in a pleasing way. The first known use of "felicitous" in this way was around 1641.
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA.
Register Now.
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA. Register Now.
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Felicitous
"Felicitous" itself isn't very common in phrases or idioms. It's a more formal word and tends to be used in single word descriptions. However, here are some alternatives that capture a similar meaning:
Happy accident: Describes an unexpected event that turns out well.
Fortunate coincidence: Highlights a lucky occurrence that benefits someone.
Serendipitous find: Emphasises the joy of discovering something valuable unexpectedly.
Right place, right time: Focuses on being in a position to benefit from an unforeseen situation.
Silver lining: Points out the positive aspect that can emerge from a difficult situation.
Posts Related to Felicitous
Source Information
Definition of felicitous from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
