I. ˈfȯr]chən, ˈfȯ(ə)], ](ˌ)chün\ noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin fortuna, derivative from the root of fort-, fors chance, luck; akin to Latin ferre to carry — more at bear
1. : a hypothetical force or power that unpredictably or capriciously determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably for persons or causes
more by fortune , lady, than by merit — Shakespeare
— often personified as a mythical being and then usually cap.
turn, Fortune, and help thy devoted servant
2. obsolete : something that befalls one : accident , mishap
3.
a. : good luck : favorable issue : success : prosperity attained partly through luck
fortune attended the general's campaign
b. : a turn or course of good or bad luck falling to one either by pure chance or incidentally in the course of some undertaking
it was my good fortune to be present — A.N.Whitehead
c. fortunes plural : the turns and courses of luck accompanying the progress of an individual (as through life or toward ultimate success)
following the fortunes of a typical rags-to-riches hero in the comics
his fortunes varied but he never gave up his main objective
4. : what is to befall one : destiny , fate
read his fortune in his palm
it may be my fortune to succeed or fail but I will not hesitate to try
5.
a. : condition in life as determined by material possessions : large possessions : riches, wealth
a man of fortune
b. : a store of material possessions or wealth owned (as by an individual or a family)
was left a fortune by his uncle
— often used in plural
the family fortunes had declined greatly since his grandfather's day
6. archaic : a woman of wealth and substance : heiress
7. : one of the benevolent planets (Jupiter, Venus) in a favorable aspect
Synonyms: see chance
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English fortunen, from Middle French fortuner, from Latin fortunare, to make prosperous
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to give or ascribe either good or bad fortune to : ordain the fortune of
2. archaic : to provide with a fortune especially as a dower
intransitive verb
archaic : to fall out : happen , chance