lengthy etymology

Word: Serendipity

Etymology:

• Coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, from Persian "serendip" (Sri Lanka) + "-ity" (suffix denoting quality or state).

Meaning:

• The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.

Origin:

• Walpole took the term from "The Three Princes of Serendip," a fairy tale in which the protagonists encounter a series of coincidences that lead them to unexpected fortunes.

Lengthy Etymology:

• Serendib: The Arabic name for Sri Lanka, likely derived from the Sanskrit "Siṃhaladvīpa" (lion island).
• Serendipite: A discovery made by accident, especially a valuable or useful one.
• Serendipitous: Relating to or characterized by serendipite.
• Serendipity: The state or quality of making serendipitous discoveries.

Additional Notes:

• The term "serendipity" initially referred to fortunate discoveries in literature or science, but later came to be used more broadly to describe any unexpected or advantageous event.
• The tale of "The Three Princes of Serendip" is believed to have originated in India and was transmitted to the West through Persian translations.
• Some argue that "serendipity" should be considered a neologism, as it was not widely used before Walpole's coinage in 1754.

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