Etymologically
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fortuitus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [fɔr.tuˈiː.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [for.tuˈiː.tus][1]

Forms

fortuītus (feminine fortuīta, neuter fortuītum, adverb fortuītō); first/second-declension adjective[1] Horace and Phaedrus have fortuītus, and the short fortuĭtus is probable elsewhere.[2]

Etymology

It is from ⟨*fortu-⟩ “chance”, an unattested noun from the root of fors “chance”, with the suffix ⟨-ītus⟩, formed like grātuītus.[2][1][3] A similar u-stem lies behind fortūna.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of what is due to chance.[2] Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant determined by chance, accidental, and of circumstances or objects casual, spontaneous, as in Cicero.[2] In Livy it meant random, haphazard, and in Quintilian incidental, contingent.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant casual, accidental, chance.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for fortuitous, accidental.[6] It survives in Italian and Spanish fortuito and French fortuit, and gave English fortuitous in the 1650s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the accidental.[2][4]
  • 1650s – English fortuitous is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Accidental, fortuitous.[2]
  2. Casual, spontaneous.[2]
  3. Random, haphazard.[2]
  4. Incidental, contingent.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press