infelicitous
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L337714 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˌɪn.fəˈlɪs.ɪ.təs/ / /ˌɪn.fɪˈlɪs.ɪ.təs/ / /ˌɪn.fɛlˈɪs.ɪ.təs/
adj
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English felicitous English infelicitous From in- + felicitous.
- Unhappy or unfortunate.
“My last run this month is an amazing performance of an "A2/3" Pacific, No. 60524, Herringbone (could there possibly be a more infelicitous name for a locomotive than this, let alone for the unhappy horse which first had to bear it?), […].”
“If leading a "dog's life" be considered a peculiar phase of human misery, the life of a Boys' Dog is still more infelicitous.”
- Inappropriate or awkward; not well said, expressed, or done.
“"Now, you've got just grounds for shooting me," he said gaily, and instantly regretted his infelicitous remark.”
- Of a sentence or utterance: not semantically and pragmatically coherent.