Infelicity: meaning, definitions and examples
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infelicity
[ ˌɪn.fɪˈlɛs.ɪ.ti ]
unfortunate situation
Infelicity refers to a lack of happiness or an unfortunate event or circumstance. It can describe something that is unhappy, inappropriate, or ill-timed. Often associated with misfortune or unsuitable actions, infelicity can apply to both emotional states and linguistic choices.
Synonyms
awkwardness, discontent, misery, misfortune, unhappiness
Examples of usage
- Her infelicity in the conversation made everyone uncomfortable.
- The infelicity of his comments was evident in the room's silence.
- He expressed his infelicity over the recent changes in the company.
Translations
Translations of the word "infelicity" in other languages:
🇵🇹 infelicidade
- infelicidade (em uma situação)
- desgraça
🇮🇳 असफलता
- दुर्भाग्य
- अभाव
🇩🇪 Unglück
- Unglücklichkeit
- Missgeschick
🇮🇩 ketidakbahagiaan
- kesedihan
- malang
🇺🇦 нещастя
- нещасливість
- невдача
🇵🇱 nieszczęście
- nieszczęśliwość
- pech
🇯🇵 不幸 (ふこう)
- 不幸せ (ふしあわせ)
- 災難 (さいなん)
🇫🇷 malheur
- infortune
- malchance
🇪🇸 infelicidad
- desgracia
- infortunio
🇹🇷 şanssızlık
- talihsizlik
- mutsuzluk
🇰🇷 불행
- 불행함
- 재난
🇸🇦 شقاء
- حظ سيئ
- مصيبة
🇨🇿 neštěstí
- nešťastnost
- smůla
🇸🇰 nešťastie
- nešťastnosť
- smola
🇨🇳 不幸 (bùxìng)
- 不幸感 (bùxìng gǎn)
- 灾难 (zāinàn)
🇸🇮 nesreča
- nesrečnost
- zlo
🇮🇸 óheppni
- óheppni (í aðstæðum)
- vanheppni
🇰🇿 бақытсыздық
- бақытсыздық (жағдайда)
- апат
🇬🇪 იუღლი
- უბედურება
- უბედურება (მდგომარეობაში)
🇦🇿 bədbəxtlik
- bədbəxtlik (situasiyada)
- fəlakət
🇲🇽 infelicidad
- desgracia
- infortunio
Etymology
The word 'infelicity' originates from the late 14th century, derived from the Latin term 'infelicitas', which combines 'in-' (not) and 'felix' (happy, fortunate). The usage of 'infelicity' evolved in Middle English as a way to describe not only the state of being unhappy but also the occurrence of unfortunate events. Throughout history, the term has been employed in various contexts, from literature to linguistics, to explore the nuances of unhappiness and unfortunate circumstances. The notion of infelicity has grown to encompass both emotional discomfort and inappropriate expressions, showcasing the complexity of human experiences and language. The word has maintained its presence in academic and literary discussions, highlighting its significance in capturing the subtleties of misfortune.