释义 |
felicitous, a.|fɪˈlɪsɪtəs| [f. felicity + -ous.] Characterized by felicity. 1. a. Indicative of or marked by extreme happiness; blissful. rare.
1824Dibdin Libr. Comp. 606, I am well aware of that felicitous palpitation of heart. 1886Ruskin Præterita I. i. 29 In the refinement of their highly educated..benevolent, and felicitous lives. †b. Fortunate, prosperous, successful. Obs.
1735[see felicious]. 2. Of an action, expression, manner, etc.: Admirably suited to the occasion; strikingly apt or appropriate.
1789P. Stuart Let. to Burns 5 Aug., His manner was so felicitous, that he enraptured every person around him. 1802Paley Nat. Theol. xxvi. (1803) 519 A felicitous adaptation of the organ to the object. 1839Carlyle Chartism (1858) 3 A Reform Ministry has ‘put down..Chartism’ in the most felicitous effectual manner. 1848W. H. Bartlett Egypt to Pal. xxvii. (1879) 528 We esteemed it a felicitous rounding off of our journey. 1866Felton Anc. & Mod. Gr. II. x. 190 This striking essay..abounds in..felicitous comparisons. 1878R. W. Dale Lect. Preach. v. 120 A felicitous illustration. b. Of persons: Happy or pleasantly apt in expression, manner, or style.
1831Lamb Elia Ser. 1. Old Benchers I.T., Felicitous in jests upon his own figure. 1824Dibdin Libr. Comp. 765 The witty, the felicitous, the inimitable Fontaine. 1841W. Spalding Italy & It. Isl. II. 389 He is..sometimes singularly felicitous, in striking out insulated views. Hence feˈlicitousness, the quality or state of being felicitous.
1727in Bailey vol. II.; and in mod. Dicts. |