Each week , we take a close look at words and expressions commonly used in American English . But , let's be honest . Language is not fair . Some words are just more beautiful than others . Take the word "moist ," for example . “Moist ” was recently named one of the ugliest words in the English language . The word sounds dirty , and its meaning is not all that great . So , you could say it loses on both counts . Some words sound beautiful but have ugly meanings . Take , for example , the word “malevolent .” It may sound pleasant to the ear . But it means “having or showing a desire to cause harm to another person .” On the other hand , there are words such as "serendipity ." Serendipity sounds beautiful and is fun to say . The adjective form of the word is even more fun to say -- "serendipitous "! Three words with similar meanings to "serendipity " are fate , chance and fortuitous . But none of those are as beautiful as serendipity . The meaning is beautiful , too . The Merriam-Webster Dictionary website defines "serendipity " as "luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for ." So serendipity is a happy accident . It comes from being in the right place at the right time . For example , let's say you have a single friend who is perfectly happy living the life of a bachelor . He does not want to be in a relationship . One day on his way to work , he jumps onto the wrong train . There he meets the perfect woman for him and they marry a short time later . It was pure serendipity ! Not only was he not looking for a relationship when he found one , he also wasn't supposed to be on that train . The history of the word "serendipity " is also interesting . The Encyclopedia Britannica website explains that Serendip is an ancient name for Sri Lanka , the island nation once called Ceylon . Word historians believe that Serendip comes from Arabic . They say the word was first used in the Arabic language more than 1,500 years ago . Some experts believe that Arab traders began using it after coming in contact with people from South Asia . The first recorded use of the English word “serendipity ” can be found in the letters of an 18th century English writer named Horace Walpole . Merriam-Webster's online dictionary says that in the 1700s , Walpole used the word in a letter to his friend also named Horace -- Horace Mann . He goes on to write that explaining the origin of "serendipity " would be easier than defining it . Walpole says he made the word after reading a Persian story called "The Three Princes of Serendip ." The heroes in this story , he writes , "were always making discoveries , by accidents " of things they were not looking for . The website adds that Walpole's memory of the story may not have been correct . But that memory did give serendipity the meaning that we know today . Now let's hear two friends use the word serendipity . Long time no see ! What a coincidence ! I was just talking about you last night . How are you ? I'm doing great ! How about you ? Still working in the finance world ? I left my job in finance . What made you decide to do that ? Actually , it's a funny story . Last year , my friend invited me to a party in his neighborhood . I wasn't going to go . So , I went and the party was … okay . But there were lots of kids . At one point , the younger kids started acting up . So , to settle them down , I sang some songs . Well , one parent really liked them . What does this have to do with your finance job ? I'm getting to that . As it turns out , that parent produces children's music ! She invited me to her recording studio and the next day I signed a three-year contract ! What an amazing story of serendipity ! That is the best way to describe it – serendipitous ! I didn't plan on quitting my banking job . But fate had other plans for me . Do you have a story of serendipity to share with us ?