fortune English · revision 6154

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=la fors}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈfɔː.tʃuːn/, /ˈfɔː.tʃən/, US /ˈfɔːr.tʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|fortune|t=lot, good fortune, misfortune]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a learned borrowing of [[la|fortūna|t=chance, fate, good luck]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) also personified as the goddess Fortuna,^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[m|la|fors|t=chance, luck]] (genitive fortis).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The Latin may be related to [[m|la|ferre|t=to carry]], from PIE [[ine-pro|*bʰer-|t=to carry]], as “that which is brought”;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) de Vaan accepts this, though Ernout and Meillet do not.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Chance or luck as a force in human affairs: before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and before 1325 in ''Cursor Mundi'', personified as Dame Fortune, in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The chance or lot that falls to someone in life is from about 1374,^(OED 1989) and a chance event or adventure from about 1350.^(OED 1989) The goddess and her wheel stood for the ups and downs of life.^(Etymonline) Wealth, a large estate, is first found in Spenser, probably from one's condition or standing in life, then one's position as determined by wealth, and then wealth itself;^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Hoad dates the sense to the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) ''Fortune favours the brave'' is in English from the late 14th century and goes back to Virgil's “audentes fortuna iuvat”.^(Cresswell 2021) A ''soldier of fortune'' is attested by the 1660s, and a ''fortune-hunter'', one who seeks to marry for money, from the 1680s.^(Etymonline) The ''Fortune 500'', the list of the most profitable American companies in ''Fortune'' magazine, dates from 1955.^(Etymonline) [[fortunate|alt=Fortunate]] is from before 1387, in Trevisa.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – chance, luck.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1350 – a chance event.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1374 – one's lot in life.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1387 – fortunate.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 16th century – wealth, in Spenser.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1660s – soldier of fortune.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1955 – Fortune 500.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A large amount of money or property; great [[wealth]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Chance or [[luck]], especially seen as a power affecting human affairs.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(often fortunes)'' The good or bad things that happen to a person or undertaking.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person's destiny or future, as told by a [[fortune-teller]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' To give wealth to; to happen by chance.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fortuneless]]

+ * [[fortunate]]

+ * [[fortune-teller]]

+ * [[unfortunate]]

+ * [[fortune cookie]]

+ * [[fortune hunter]]

+ * [[soldier of fortune]]

+ * [[wheel of fortune]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fortuitous]]

+ * [[fortuity]]

+ * [[misfortune]]

+ * [[bear]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}