Definition of FELICITOUS

Choose the Right Synonym for 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. fit for battle suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands. clothes suitable for camping meet suggests a just proportioning. meet payment proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom. proper acknowledgement appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness. an appropriate gift fitting implies harmony of mood or tone. a fitting end apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination. apt quotations happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate. a happy choice of words felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful. a felicitous phrase

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").

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 on the Web

Confirmed by the Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson — a seminal decision of 1896 that has long been considered one of the court’s least felicitous — the doctrine enfranchised the separation of the races in public facilities. — Margalit Fox, New York Times, "Dovey Johnson Roundtree, Barrier-Breaking Lawyer, Dies at 104," 21 May 2018 Many of these mezcal transplants work surprisingly well, given the volatile flavors of the spirit; the mezcal Negroni is an easy and felicitous switcheroo. — Robert Simonson, New York Times, "Whatever the Cocktail, They’re Ordering It With Mezcal," 5 July 2018 This is another hybrid Super Audio recording that highlights all of the music’s felicitous details. — Patrick Neas, kansascity, "These CDs will carry classical music lovers through the summer," 25 June 2018 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

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.