Word of the Week

It's been a while, but this one is quite interesting. Well, at least I think so. This is one of those words that you think you know but when you try and define it, you end up saying something like "Well, it's ... you know, when the ... and the ... with the thing and then it's all ... crap".

So, in case you've ever had that problem and I most certainly have, here is your word of the week:

Serendipity

–noun
1.an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
2.good fortune; luck: the serendipity of getting the first job she applied for.

serendipity

1754 (but rare before 20c.), coined by Horace Walpole (1717-92) in a letter to Mann (dated Jan. 28); he said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of." The name is from Serendip, an old name for Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), from Arabic Sarandib, from Skt. Simhaladvipa "Dwelling-Place-of-Lions Island." Serendipitous formed c.1950.

No. No need to thank me. Your aptitude for making desireable discoveries by accident is thanks enough.