Word of the Day - 12/05/25
felicitous
/fɪ'lɪsɪtəs/(adj.): well chosen or suited to the circumstances
Her felicitous metaphor captured the idea better than pages of explanation.
(adj.): marked by good fortune
Finding a perfectly ripe avocado right before making guacamole was quite felicitous.
Word Origin
The word 'felicitous' originates from the Late Latin 'felicitas', meaning "happiness" or "good fortune," combined with the English adjectival suffix '-ous'. 'Felicitas' itself derives from the Latin adjective 'felix' (genitive 'felicis'), meaning "lucky, fortunate, fruitful, or happy." Therefore, 'felicitous' essentially means "characterized by good fortune or happiness" or "aptly chosen." The word can be broken down as 'felix' (fortunate, happy) + '-itas' (a Latin suffix forming abstract nouns, giving 'felicitas') + '-ous' (an English suffix forming adjectives).
Words with similar origins include 'felicity', which comes directly from the Latin 'felicitas'. The given name 'Felix' also comes directly from the Latin 'felix'. Another related word is 'fecund', meaning "capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile," which comes from the Latin 'fecundus', sharing a root with 'felix' related to fruitfulness and fertility.