[mis.for.tune] n (15c) 1 a: an event or conjunction of events that causes an unfortunate or distressing result: bad luck "by ~ he fell into bad company" "had the ~ to break his leg" b: an unhappy situation "always ready to help people in ~"
2: a distressing or unfortunate incident or event "~s never come singly" syn misfortune, mischance, adversity, mishap mean adverse fortune or an instance of this. misfortune may apply to either the incident or conjunction of events that is the cause of an unhappy change of fortune or to the ensuing state of distress "never lost hope even in the depths of misfortune". mischance applies esp. to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance "took the wrong road by mischance". adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune "had never experienced great adversity". mishap applies to an often trivial instance of bad luck "the usual mishaps of a family vacation".