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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SANTA MONICA, California –- Think Felicity with zombies.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'felicity'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Learn More about felicity
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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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