felicity (2009-08-13)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [fə lis′i tē]

Definition: (1) Happiness; bliss; anything producing happiness; good fortune. (2) A quality or knack of appropriate and pleasing expression in writing, speaking, painting, etc.; an apt expression or thought.

Usage: She had all the qualities to make a man a good wife, if it had been my fate to experience such felicity.

Suggested Usage: (1) The conditions that make speech acts real are called felicity conditions. (2) Some seek their rest and happiness on earth, others eternal felicity in heaven.

Etymology: Middle English felicite from Old French felicité from Latin felicitas, happiness from felix (genitive of felicis), happy, orig., fertile, fruitful, nourishing: for IE base see female.