Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1700-1800
Origin: Serendip ancient name of Sri Lanka; because it was an ability possessed by the main characters in the old Persian story The Three Princes of Serendip

serendipity

 noun
     
ser‧en‧dip‧i‧ty [uncountable] literary
when interesting or valuable discoveries are made by accident [↪ luck]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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