fors Latin · revision 5520

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *bʰer-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɔrs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɔrs]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fors''' ''f'' (genitive fortis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*forti-|t=luck]], perhaps from [[ine-pro|*bʰr̥-ti-|t=bearing, what is brought]], from the root of [[ferō]] “to bear”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) Cognate with [[sa|भृति|tr=bhṛtí|t=support]], [[sga|brith|t=birth]] and [[en|birth]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) [[fortūna]] is its derivative.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, Köbler from Ennius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was chance or luck seen as directing events, the lot that attaches to a thing, a chance happening, and with a genitive the chance of doing something.^(OLD 2012) It was used almost only in the nominative and in the ablative [[forte]] “by chance”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Gaffiot 2016) Phrases with ''fors'' gave adverbs “perhaps”: ''fors sit an'' gave [[forsitan]], and ''fors'' itself was used as an adverb in Virgil and Horace.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Cicero says “let chance see to these things”.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Medieval writers used it for fate, glossed by Old English ''wyrd''.^(DMLBS) Its derivative [[fortuītus]] gave [[en|fortuitous]] in the 1650s, and ''fortūna'' gave [[en|fortune]] about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero says “let chance see to these things”.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''fortune'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – English ''fortuitous'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|Chance]], [[m|en|luck]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Destiny, lot.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A chance happening, accident.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (with genitive) A chance, possibility (of).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''fors sit an'', it might be that, perhaps.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[diffors]]

+ * [[fortuītus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ferō]]

+ * [[fortūna]]

+ * [[en|fortune]]

+ * [[en|fortuitous]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein contrasts [[cāsus]], chance as a blind natural agent, with ''fors'', chance pictured almost as a being that toys with mortals, and with [[fortūna]], fortune that is not blind.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}