fortune

¹for·tune

noun \ˈfȯr-chən\

Definition of FORTUNE

1

often capitalized : a hypothetical force or personified power that unpredictably determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably

2

obsolete : accident, incident

3

a : prosperity attained partly through luck : success

b : luck 1

c plural : the turns and courses of luck accompanying one's progress (as through life) <her fortunes varied but she never gave up>

4

: destiny, fate <can tell your fortune>; also : a prediction of fortune

5

a : riches, wealth <a man of fortune>

b : a store of material possessions <the family fortune>

c : a very large sum of money <spent a fortune redecorating>

Examples of FORTUNE

1. He hoped to achieve fame and fortune.
2. They had the good fortune to escape injury when their car crashed.
3. The book follows the fortunes of two families through the years.

Origin of FORTUNE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin fortuna; akin to Latin fort-, fors chance, luck, and perhaps to ferre to carry — more at bear

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FORTUNE

Synonyms

future

Antonyms

past

Related Words

circumstance, destiny, doom, fate, hap, kismet, lot, portion; futurities, outlook, prospect

Near Antonyms

present

²fortune

verb

for·tunedfor·tun·ing

Definition of FORTUNE

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to give good or bad fortune to

2

archaic : to endow with a fortune

intransitive verb

archaic : happen, chance

First Known Use of FORTUNE

14th century