THE FIRST WORD

serendipity

PRONUNCIATION:

(ser-uhn-DIP-i-tee) 

MEANING:

noun: The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by chance. Also, an instance of such a discovery.

ETYMOLOGY:

Coined by novelist Horace Walpole based on the fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip. The Princes were supposedly making these happy discoveries they were not looking for. From Persian Sarandip (Sri Lanka), from Arabic sarandib. Earliest documented use: 1754.

USAGE:

"To maximise serendipity, Yossi Vardi cleverly mixes specialised conferences with the more eclectic kind."
In Search of Serendipity; The Economist (London, UK); Jul 22, 2010.