Definition of felicity
felicities
1a : the quality or state of being happy; especially : great happiness marital felicityb : an instance of happiness
2 : something that causes happiness … the small felicities and absurdities of real life manage to peek through the gloom. — A. O. Scott
3 : a pleasing manner or quality especially in art or language a felicity with words The curve of her mouth gives her a Mona Lisa smile, but that's just a felicity of her anatomy. — Diane Ackerman
4 : an apt expression The poet was well known for his felicities.
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Examples of felicity in a sentence
I've always admired his felicity with words.
told his friends that marriage had brought him a felicity that he had never known before
Recent Examples of felicity from the web
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A club appearance can only confirm the felicity of their merger.
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Mr. Chabon’s love of melodrama and boy’s-own adventure tales can make descriptions of his books seem naïve or flippant, but his verbal felicity goes a long way to suspending any reader’s doubts.
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Origin and Etymology of felicity
Middle English felicite, from Anglo-French felicité, from Latin felicitat-, felicitas, from felic-, felix fruitful, happy — more at feminine
First Known Use: 14th century
FELICITY Defined for English Language Learners
felicity
playDefinition of felicity for English Language Learners
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: great happiness
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: something that is pleasing and well chosen
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: a talent for speaking or writing in a very effective way
FELICITY Defined for Kids
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See words that rhyme with felicity Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for felicity Nglish: Translation of felicity for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of felicity for Arabic speakers
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