>[!abstract] >The word serendipity (meaning an unplanned fortunate discovery) was coined by English writer Horacio Walpole in 1754 in reference to a Persian fairy tale, *The Three Princes of Serendip*, which tells the stories of said princes making unplanned discoveries by accident. The name *Serendip* comes an old Persian name for Sri Lanka and also gave the name *Sarandib* used by Arab traders. >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): — >- **West** (similar): — >- **East** (different): — >- **South** (downstream): —