felicity

¹

[ fi-lis-i-tee ]

noun

, plural fe·lic·i·ties.

1. the state of being happy, especially in a high degree; bliss:

   marital felicity.

2. an instance of this.
3. a source of happiness.
4. a skillful faculty:

   felicity of expression.

5. an instance or display of this:

   the many felicities of the poem.

6. Archaic. good fortune.

Felicity

²

[ fi-lis-i-tee ]

noun

1. a female given name, form of Felicia.

felicity

/ fɪˈlɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. happiness; joy
2. a cause of happiness
3. an appropriate expression or style
4. the quality or display of such expressions or style
5. philosophy appropriateness (of a speech act). The performative I appoint you ambassador can only possess felicity if uttered by one in whom the authority for such appointments is vested

Other Words From

• nonfe·lici·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of felicity¹

1350–1400; Middle English felicite (from Anglo-French ) from Latin fēlīcitās, equivalent to fēlīci- (stem of fēlīx ) “happy” + -tās -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of felicity¹

C14: from Latin fēlīcitās happiness, from fēlix happy

Synonym Study

See happiness.

Example Sentences

Olivia Mannix, the CEO and founder of Felicity, says the drug is currently ready for proof-of-concept pilot studies, but her long-term vision is to shake up the stagnant antidepressant market.

From MIT Technology Review

Felicity Huffman [who starred on the show] texted me, “That street looks very familiar ...” She tweeted me.

From The Daily Beast

Alias would make a star out of former Felicity guest star Garner and become an international hit.

From The Daily Beast

Cherry admitted he told at least two of her costars, Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman, two months earlier.

From The Daily Beast

After Felicity wrapped in 2002, many of his costars graduated to bigger projects.

From The Daily Beast

He is a creator of television shows including Felicity, Alias, and Lost.

From The Daily Beast

“Now this is what I call real felicity,” observed the major, pulling out a pipe which he proceeded to fill.

From Project Gutenberg

The charm of style, the delicacy of touch, and felicity of phrase, are in both cases preeminent.

From Project Gutenberg

I conceive that the strictest union of affection is requisite to conjugal felicity.

From Project Gutenberg

Marriage, which ought to be a source of all felicity, is often to a man a heavy burden which crushes him through want of fortune.

From Project Gutenberg

On the sweet face of this brave mother, once so severely tried, the expression of profound felicity was depicted.

From Project Gutenberg