felicitous

adjective fe·lic·i·tous \ fi-ˈli-sə-təs \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: felicitous in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of felicitous

1 : very well suited or expressed : apt

a felicitous remark

handled the delicate matter in a most felicitous manner

2 : pleasant, delightful

felicitous weather

The ride through the countryside is a felicitous journey for city people.

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felicitously

adverb

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felicitousness

noun

See felicitous defined for English-language learners

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Examples of felicitous in a Sentence

a felicitous combination of flavors
a felicitous accompaniment to dinner is provided by a harpist on weekends at the restaurant

Recent Examples of felicitous from the Web

Its name, at first, was the less felicitous Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup.

— New York Times, "The Stanley Cup’s Namesake Produced a Great Trophy. Not Much Else.," 28 May 2018
For the studio benefit on April 19, the Greek Revival home of Patricia Strachan, located in the Garden District, was the party's felicitous setting.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "Studio in the Woods melds art, music and oysters at fantastic fete," 17 May 2018
For a group founded in honor of and to have fun, the Sybarites could not have chosen a more felicitous setting than Arnaud's for its annual Spring Soiree on March 10.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "Sybarites celebrate spring at annual soiree," 8 Apr. 2018
William Reynolds' editing gets many opportunities for felicitous comment.

— thr staff, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Sound of Music': THR's 1965 Review," 2 Mar. 2018
Whatever the motivations for her political 180, Fairbanks’s timing was felicitous.

— rebecca nelson, Cosmopolitan, "Cassandra Fairbanks Loved Bernie Sanders. Now She's a Donald Trump Superfan.," 18 May 2017
Three artists with new shows in Seattle galleries provide some felicitous examples.

— michael upchurch, The Seattle Times, "Review: Landscapes that escape boundaries are at 2 Seattle galleries," 9 June 2017
This was abetted by many fine moments from the orchestra, including a solemn overture, agitated strings representing thunder, the moment of judgment itself (from horns) and felicitous exchanges of two violins from across the stage.

— alan artner, chicagotribune.com, "Music of the Baroque revisits Telemann's 'Judgment'," 16 May 2017
There may be no more felicitous local marriage of the classic Texas barbecue rib and Asian flavors than in Sai’s Thai BBQ ribs ($21.88).

— andrew marton, star-telegram.com, "Sai Fine Asian Bistro does its cuisine to a ‘T’," 23 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'felicitous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The adjective felicitous has been a part of our language since the late 18th century, but felicity, the noun meaning "great happiness," and later, "aptness," was around even in Middle English (as felicite, a borrowing from Anglo-French). Both words ultimately derive from the Latin adjective felix, meaning "fruitful" or "happy." The connection between happy and felicitous continues today in that both words can mean "notably fitting, effective, or well adapted." Happy typically suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate (as in "a happy choice of words"), and felicitous often implies an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful (as in "a felicitous phrase").

First Known Use of felicitous

1789

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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felicitous Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of felicitous

fit, suitable, meet, proper, appropriate, fitting, apt, happy, felicitous mean right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance. fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.