what it means
Serendipity is finding one thing while looking for another, and the second thing turning out to be better. The gardener in the drawing is not digging for treasure. He is digging a hole, in a bad mood, the way anyone digs a hole — and the spade knocks against something that lights up green. That is the whole shape of the word. It needs a search, and it needs the search to have been for something else. The name was invented in 1754, out of a tale about the three princes of Serendip, who kept finding what they were not hunting for. Luck on its own is not serendipity. You have to have been out there with a spade.
Serendipity es encontrar una cosa mientras buscabas otra, y que la segunda resulte mejor. El jardinero del dibujo no cava buscando un tesoro: cava un pozo, de mal humor, y la pala choca con algo que brilla en verde. Por eso hace falta la búsqueda, y hace falta que fuera de otra cosa. La suerte sola no basta: hay que haber estado ahí, con la pala en la mano.
Serendipity é achar uma coisa enquanto se procurava outra, e a segunda ser melhor. O jardineiro do desenho não cava atrás de tesouro: cava um buraco, de mau humor, e a pá bate em algo que acende verde. Por isso a procura é necessária — e que fosse por outra coisa. Sorte sozinha não basta: é preciso estar ali, de pá na mão.
Serendipity, c'est trouver une chose en en cherchant une autre, et que la seconde soit meilleure. Le jardinier du dessin ne creuse pas pour un trésor : il creuse un trou, de mauvaise humeur, et la pelle heurte quelque chose qui s'allume en vert. D'où la recherche, indispensable — et qui portait sur autre chose. La chance seule ne suffit pas : il fallait être là, la pelle à la main.
Serendipity adalah menemukan satu hal saat mencari hal lain, dan yang kedua ternyata lebih baik. Tukang kebun di gambar tidak sedang mencari harta: ia menggali lubang sambil kesal, lalu sekopnya membentur sesuatu yang menyala hijau. Jadi pencarian tetap perlu — hanya saja untuk hal lain. Keberuntungan saja tidak cukup: Anda harus sudah di sana, memegang sekop.
Serendipity, başka bir şey ararken bambaşka bir şey bulmak ve bulduğunun daha iyi çıkmasıdır. Resimdeki bahçıvan define aramıyor: aksi bir suratla çukur kazıyor ve küreği yeşil parlayan bir şeye çarpıyor. Yani aramak şart — ama başka bir şey için. Yalnız şans yetmez; elinde kürekle orada olmuş olmak gerekir.
serendipity とは、別のものを探している最中に、それより良いものを見つけてしまうことです。絵の庭師は宝を掘っているのではありません。不機嫌な顔で、ただ穴を掘っている。そこにシャベルが緑に光る何かを当てる。だから探すという行為は要ります。ただし別の目的で。運だけでは足りません。シャベルを持って外に出ていた人にだけ起こります。
noun
finding something good while looking for something else
“Most of the discoveries in that lab were serendipity, not planning.”
noun
the knack for having that keep happening to you
“She has a kind of serendipity; every wrong turn leads somewhere better.”
Get the 10-word book — free. This word and nine like it, as a printable PDF.
The gardener hits something glowing while digging an ordinary hole. Serendipity is:
Write one line with serendipity. You get a score, the one thing that would fix it, and your own sentence written sharper. The five best hold the wall.
Sign in with Google to post — your sentence rides along.
No one holds this wall yet. Be the first.