Advertisement
Entries linking to felicitous
felicity (n.)
late 14c., "happiness; that which is a source of happiness," from Old French felicite "happiness" (14c.), from Latin felicitatem (nominative felicitas) "happiness, fertility," from felix (genitive felicis) "happy, fortunate, fruitful, fertile" (from suffixed form of PIE *dhe(i)- "to suck," with derivatives meaning "to suckle, produce, yield").
A relic of Rome's origins as an agricultural community: that which brings happiness is that which produces crops. Compare pauper (see poor (adj.)) "poor, not wealthy," literally "producing little." The meaning "skillful adroitness, admirable propriety" is attested from c. 1600.
infelicitous (adj.)"unhappy, unlucky," 1754, from in- (1) "not, opposite of" + felicitous. Earlier was infelicious (1590s). Related: infelicitously; infelicitousness.
Share felicitous
‘cite’
Page URL:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/felicitous
HTML Link:
<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/felicitous">Etymology of felicitous by etymonline</a>
APA style:
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of felicitous. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/felicitous
Chicago style:
Harper Douglas, “Etymology of felicitous,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/felicitous.
MLA style:
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of felicitous.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/felicitous. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
IEEE style:
D. Harper. “Etymology of felicitous.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/felicitous (accessed $(datetime)).
updated on October 25, 2014
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of felicitous from WordNet
felicitous (adj.)
exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style;
a felicitous speaker
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.
Dictionary entries near felicitous
fele
Felicia
felicide
felicitate
felicitation
felicitous
felicity
feline
felinity
Felix
fell