How Do You Spell SERENDIPITOUS?

Pronunciation: [sˌɛɹɪndˈɪpɪtəs] (IPA)

Serendipitous, spelled /ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtəs/, is an adjective that describes an unexpected or fortunate discovery. The word originated from "Serendip", a Persian name for Sri Lanka, and the English author Horace Walpole's usage of the word in a fairy tale. The spelling of serendipitous is based on the Latin root word "serendipity" (meaning unexpected discovery) and can be broken down phonetically as /ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪti/. The pronunciation includes emphasis on the first syllable and the ending "-ous" is pronounced as "-əs".

SERENDIPITOUS Meaning and Definition

1. Serendipitous is an adjective that describes an occurrence or a discovery that happens by chance in a happy, beneficial, or fortunate manner. It refers to those unexpected events or instances of luck that bring about unexpected positive outcomes or unintended happiness.

   The word originated from "Serendip," from Horace Walpole's fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," and it was coined based on the characters' ability to make fortuitous discoveries through their observations of seemingly unrelated facts.

   When something is described as serendipitous, it implies that it was not deliberately sought or planned, but rather stumbled upon unexpectedly. It often carries a sense of joy or delight as it conveys a feeling of pleasant surprise resulting from an unanticipated and advantageous encounter.

   Serendipitous moments can occur in various aspects of life, such as personal relationships, scientific research, creative pursuits, or even daily routines. Examples could include finding a valuable item in an unexpected place, meeting a long-lost friend unexpectedly while traveling, stumbling upon a groundbreaking solution during experimentation, or discovering a talent or passion by accident.

   Overall, the term "serendipitous" captures the excitement and positivity associated with unforeseen and advantageous events, emphasizing their fortuitous and unplanned nature.

Top Common Misspellings for SERENDIPITOUS *

• surendipitus 18.75%
• serendipidous 12.5%
• serendipitus 12.5%
• serendiptious 12.5%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for SERENDIPITOUS

• serendipitious
• serendipious
• serindipitous
• serendipituous
• aerendipitous
• zerendipitous
• xerendipitous
• serradipitous
• sereadipitous
• serandiptous
• sarandipitous

Etymology of SERENDIPITOUS

The word "serendipitous" is derived from the term "Serendipity", which itself has an interesting etymology. The word Serendipity was coined by Horace Walpole in his 1754 letter to a friend. He explained that he derived this term from the Persian fairy tale called "The Three Princes of Serendip".

In the story, the three princes possess the ability to make unexpected discoveries by chance or accident while searching for something else entirely. Walpole, impressed by the princes' ability to find valuable things they were not looking for, coined the word "serendipity" to describe this concept of fortunate discoveries made accidentally or unexpectedly.

The adjective form "serendipitous" is derived from "serendipity" and is used to describe events, occurrences, or discoveries characterized by a fortunate happening or chance.

Similar spelling word for SERENDIPITOUS

• serendipity.