Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Fortune
For′tune
(fôr′tū̍n; 135)
, Noun.
[F.
fortune
, L. fortuna
; akin to fors
, fortis
, chance, prob. fr. ferre
to bear, bring. See Bear
to support, and cf. Fortuitous
.] 1.
The arrival of something in a sudden or unexpected manner; chance; accident; luck; hap; also, the personified or deified power regarded as determining human success, apportioning happiness and unhappiness, and distributing arbitrarily or fortuitously the lots of life.
’T is more by
fortune
, lady, than by merit. Shakespeare
O
Fortune
, Fortune
, all men call thee fickle. Shakespeare
2.
That which befalls or is to befall one; lot in life, or event in any particular undertaking; fate; destiny;
as, to tell one's
. fortune
You, who men's
fortunes
in their faces read. Cowley.
3.
That which comes as the result of an undertaking or of a course of action; good or ill success; especially, favorable issue; happy event; success; prosperity as reached partly by chance and partly by effort.
Our equal crimes shall equal
fortune
give. Dryden.
There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to
fortune
. Shakespeare
His father dying, he was driven to seek his
fortune
. Swift.
Syn. – Chance; accident; luck; fate.
Fortune book
, a book supposed to reveal future events to those who consult it.
Crashaw.
– Fortune hunter
, one who seeks to acquire wealth by marriage.
– Fortune teller
, one who professes to tell future events in the life of another.
– Fortune telling
, the practice or art of professing to reveal future events in the life of another.
1.
To make fortunate; to give either good or bad fortune to.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
2.
To provide with a fortune.
Richardson.
3.
To presage; to tell the fortune of.
[Obs.]
Dryden.
For′tune
,Verb.
I.
To fall out; to happen.
It
fortuned
the same night that a Christian, serving a Turk in the camp, secretely gave the watchmen warning. Knolles.
Webster 1828 Edition
Fortune
FOR'TUNE
,Noun.
1.
Properly, chance; accident; luck; the arrival of something in a sudden or unexpected manner. Hence the heathens deified chance, and consecrated temples and altars to the goddess. Hence the modern use of the word, for a power supposed to distribute the lots of life, according to her own humor.Though fortune's malice overthrow my state.
2.
The good or ill that befalls man.In you the fortune of Great Britain lies.
3.
Success, good or bad; event.Our equal crimes shall equal fortune give.
4.
The chance of life; means of living; wealth.His father dying, he was driven to London to seek his fortune.
5.
Estate; possessions, as a gentleman of small fortune.6.
A large estate; great wealth. This is often the sense of the word standing alone or unqualified; as a gentleman or lady of fortune. To the ladies we say, beware of fortune-hunters.7.
The portion of a man or woman; generally of a woman.8.
Futurity; future state or events; destiny. The young are anxious to have their fortunes told.You who men's fortunes in their faces read.
FOR'TUNE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To make fortunate. [Not used.]2.
To dispose fortunately or not; also, to presage. Obs.FOR'TUNE
,Verb.
I.
It fortuned the same night that a christian serving a Turk in the camp, secretly gave the watchmen warning.