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December 2, 2010
The most beautiful-sounding English word?
The word that was suggested as most beautiful-sounding with the greatest frequency was “serendipity.”Unlike “cellar door,” ”serendipity” has the advantage of positive associations. Meaning “an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident,” it derives from an old name for what is now Sri Lanka, as well as a Persian folktale where the heroes “were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity.”
A sampling of other user suggestions, in no particular order: soliloquy, epiphany, Elysium and elysian, scissors, vivacious, fudge, telephony, nycthemeron, cinnamon, woodthrush, phosphorescence, lithe, and languorous. -- The Hot Word
Posted by Vanderleun at December 2, 2010 11:34 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Must have been liberals that made that list. My favorites? Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Coming in second: Merry Christmas.
Posted by: Blastineau at December 2, 2010 1:28 PM
Schadenfreude is the serendipitous word to use when discussing liberal attempts at planning.
Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck at December 2, 2010 2:02 PM
The most beautiful-souding as well as just plain beautiful..."yes".
Posted by: Dwight at December 3, 2010 11:38 AM
Crepuscule- the region from which Obama and his henchpersons seem to have emanated- has long been my favourite halloween word.
Posted by: Barry from Victoria at December 4, 2010 8:04 AM
Wasn't it "elbow" in The Singing Detective?
Posted by: Gayle at December 4, 2010 8:42 PM