Keep-up English(4)

摘要

正SerendipityCoined in 1754 by Horace Walpole,but seldom used,this word has had arevival in recent years.According toBrewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,Walpole formed the word on the title ofa fairy tale,The Three Princes of Serendip,because the princes“were always makingdiscoveries,by assidents and sagaclty,ofthings they were not in quest of.”Theword,therefore,implied an aptitude formaking lucky or unexpected‘finds’ordiscoveries.