Basic Details
Word: Serendipity
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The occurrence of happy or beneficial events by chance or luck.
Synonyms: Chance, coincidence, fortune, luck
Antonyms: Misfortune, bad luck, accident
Idioms and Phrases
- Serendipity strikes: Refers to a surprising and fortunate discovery. Example: "While cleaning his attic, serendipity struck, and he found an old family treasure."
- A stroke of serendipity: An unexpected happy event that leads to a good outcome. Example: "Winning the prize was a stroke of serendipity for her after so many setbacks."
Usage Examples
Example 1: It was pure serendipity when I bumped into my childhood friend at the market after so many years.
Example 2: The scientists made a breakthrough by serendipity while researching for something entirely different.
Example 3: Finding that cute little caf was a delightful moment of serendipity during my walk around the city.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the word "serendipity" was first used by the writer Horace Walpole in the 18th century? He derived it from a Persian fairy tale about the three princes of Serendip, who were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of!
Famous Quote
"Serendipity is looking in a haystack for a needle and discovering the farmer's daughter." - Julius Comroe Jr.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "serendipity" mean?
a) A bad event
b) A happy accident
c) A type of food
d) A place
Answer: b) A happy accident
2. Which of these is a synonym of "serendipity"?
a) Coincidence
b) Misfortune
c) Unluckiness
d) Strategy
Answer: a) Coincidence
3. Which of these is an antonym of "serendipity"?
a) Chance
b) Misfortune
c) Luck
d) Fortune
Answer: b) Misfortune
4. Which sentence uses "serendipity" correctly?
a) He used serendipity to fix the car.
b) The serendipity of finding a lost ring made her day.
c) They decided to serendipity their homework.
d) She was serendipity all evening.
Answer: b) The serendipity of finding a lost ring made her day.
5. Which idiom implies a lucky coincidence?
a) Serendipity strikes
b) All in a day's work
c) Keeping one's ear to the ground
d) In hot water
Answer: a) Serendipity strikes
