Felicity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /fɪˈlɪsɪti/

Definitions

1. A state of intense happiness or blissful contentment
2. A quality of being happy or joyful, alongside a sense of great satisfaction and a delightful state of well-being
3. An experience characterized by profound joy and happiness, which brings a feeling of profound satisfaction and contentment

Etymology: Latin "fēlīx" originally meant "fertile" or "fruitful" before it meant "happy." Farmers spoke of fertile ground as felix, and the same root gave Latin "fēlīcitās," which covered fruitfulness and good fortune as well as happiness. The noun's sense of abundance survives in the idea that happiness is something that flourishes rather than something merely felt. The word reached English through Old French "felicité," which had itself been borrowed from Latin, and the Middle English form "felicite" appeared with meanings that ranged well beyond personal contentment. It could mean bliss, prosperity, or well-being, and in astrology it could describe a planet in an influential position. Those wider senses have largely faded, leaving the narrower sense of deep, lasting happiness that the word carries today.

Synonyms: happiness, joy, bliss

Antonyms: sadness, misery