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    Coined from an ancient fairy tale by a highly-imaginative architect, this word originally referred to a certain country. Though various arguments have raged over its meaning, it generally represents, today, a rather pleasant concept. What is the word, who coined it, and can you offer (anything you like) an example of it?

    Question #70634. Asked by lanfranco. (Sep 11 06 6:12 PM)


    peasypod

    		This possibly could be serendipity, a former Arabic name for Sri Lanka (Serendip). It was coined by Horace Walpole, from Persian folk-lore, and basically means to accidently discover something good.

    An example? I wonder what the colour mauve, Silly Putty and Viagra would do when combined?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serendipity#History_of_the_word

    Sep 11 06, 6:26 PM
    lanfranco

    		And that's a fascinating prospect. With that combination, we could end up with something quite interestingly kinky.

    So, peasy, you get the silver mace. Somewhere back in the mists of time, gmack did something on this subject -- #41564 -- but I decided, after running into this in a certain novel, that it was worth exploring in greater detail.

    Also, I love Horace Walpole and his wacky "Gothick" villa of "Strawberry Hill":

    Here's a site:



    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serendipity

    Sep 11 06, 6:36 PM

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