Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- phrase literally A "happy fault" or "fortunate fall".
- phrase literary A series of
miserable events will eventually lead to ahappier outcome . - phrase religion The
Biblical story of the fall ofAdam andEve and the loss of theGarden of Eden , known theologically as the source oforiginal sin - meaning that this loss of innocence was a fortunate fall because of the good that would come from it, that is,Christian redemption and the eventual hope ofHeaven .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
From Latin fēlīx culpa ("happy fault"), in Roman Catholic theology.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word felix culpa.
Examples
-
Now that it is clear for anyone with a brain to see that Greg KKKorte was lying about Smitherman, o felix culpa now wants to talk about the Enquirer's coverage of the Mayoral campaign in general.
Another Enquirer Reporter's Bias Exposed Nathaniel Livingston 2005
she commented on the word felix culpa
Latin, literally "happy fault."
Allusively: the Fall of Man or the sin of Adam as resulting in the blessedness of the Redemption. Frequently, in transferred sense: an apparent error or tragedy which has happy consequences.
August 8, 2008