kismet \KIZ-met; -mit\, noun:
Destiny; fate.
It's pure kismet when these two find each other.
-- Janet Maslin, "The Mighty': Talents to Make Buddies -- Walking and Wisecracking", New York Times, October 9, 1998
Winning wasn't essential, though it seemed kismet that Cone, for a second straight year, came back from injury to pitch in a game that clinched a bit of postseason bliss.
-- Claire Smith, "Cone Puts the Yankees' Minds at Ease", New York Times, September 21, 1997
Applewhite's writings are heavy with kismet: he said he was visiting a hospitalized friend when Mrs. Nettles entered the room and their eyes locked in a shared recognition of esoteric secrets.
-- Barry Bearak, "Eyes on Glory: Pied Pipers of Heaven's Gate", New York Times, April 28, 1997
Kismet comes (via Turkish) from Arabic qismah, "portion, lot."
