the occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way
example
Their meeting at the coffee shop was pure serendipity, leading to a friendship that neither had anticipated.
synonyms
luckfortunecoincidence
word origin — The word 'serendipity' was coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, derived from 'The Three Princes of Serendip', a Persian fairy tale, referring to the talent of making happy discoveries by accident.
SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 254
Set 254 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: serendipity, serenity, artifice, intimacy, amnesia. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
serendipity · noun/ˌsɛrənˈdɪpəˌti/
the occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way
Their meeting at the coffee shop was pure serendipity, leading to a friendship that neither had anticipated.
Synonyms: luck, fortune, coincidence
Origin: The word 'serendipity' was coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, derived from 'The Three Princes of Serendip', a Persian fairy tale, referring to the talent of making happy discoveries by accident.
serenity · noun/səˈrɛnɪti/
the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled
Yoga and meditation often help people achieve a state of serenity amidst the chaos of daily life.
Synonyms: peacefulness, tranquility, calmness
Origin: Middle English: from Old French sérénité, from Latin serenitas, from serenus 'calm, clear'.
artifice · noun/ˈɑr.tɪ.fɪs/
clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others
The magician's performance was filled with artifice, captivating the audience through clever illusions and tricks.
Synonyms: trickery, deception, cunning
Origin: The word 'artifice' comes from the Latin 'artificium', meaning 'craftsmanship' or 'skill', which is derived from 'artifex', meaning 'craftsman' or 'artisan'.
intimacy · noun/ˈɪntəməsi/
close familiarity or friendship; closeness
The couple shared a deep intimacy that brought them closer together despite the challenges they faced.
Synonyms: familiarity, closeness, association
Origin: The word 'intimacy' comes from the Latin word 'intimus' meaning 'innermost' or 'nearest'.
amnesia · noun/æmˈniː.ʒə/
loss of memory or inability to recall information
After the accident, he experienced retrograde amnesia, making it difficult for him to remember anything from his past.
Synonyms: forgetfulness, memory loss, loss of memory
Origin: from Greek 'amnesia', meaning forgetfulness, derived from 'a-' meaning without and 'mnēsis' meaning memory