Felicity

This Week’s Word: “Felicity”

Pronunciation: fe·lic·i·ty, fi-lis-it-tee

Part of speech: Noun

Plural: -ties

Definitions:
1. the state of being happy, esp. in a high degree; bliss: marital felicity.

2. a source of happiness.

3. a skillful faculty: felicity of expression.

4. an instance or display of this: the many felicities of the poem.

5. Archaic. good fortune.

“Felicity” and its Synonyms:
HAPPINESS, BLISS, CONTENTMENT, FELICITY imply an active or passive state of pleasure or pleasurable satisfaction. Happiness results from the possession or attainment of what one considers good: the happiness of visiting one's family. Bliss is unalloyed happiness or supreme delight: the bliss of perfect companionship. Contentment is a peaceful kind of happiness in which one rests without desires, even though every wish may not have been gratified: contentment in one's surroundings. Felicity is a formal word for happiness of an especially fortunate or intense kind: to wish a young couple felicity in life.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Etymology of “Felicity”:
c.1385, from O.Fr. felicite, from L. felicitatem (nom. felicitas) "happiness," from felix (gen. felicis) "happy, fortunate," from L. base *fe-, equivalent of PIE *dhe(i)- "to suck, suckle, produce, yield"
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=felicity

A Fun Quote (and book recommendation):
“Confession: I have read Pride and Prejudice about 200 times. I get lost in the language–words like thither, mischance, felicity. I’m always in agony over whether Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are really going to get together. Read it – I know you’ll love it.”
-Kathleen Kelly to Joe Fox, from the movie You’ve Got Mail (This can also be considered a movie recommendation).