fortune1
/ˈfɔːtʃuːn
/ /ˈfɔːtʃ(ə)n/noun
1 [mass noun] Chance or luck as an arbitrary force affecting human affairs: some malicious act of fortune keeps them separate...
- Notwithstanding those difficulties the biggest problem facing any publisher is chance and fickle fortune.
- Peter's exercised the discipline and fitness that we have come to expect from them, but were also forced to rely on fortune.
- Aries, the cosmic lamb/ram, thus was seen to control time and space and human fortune.
Synonyms
chance, accident, coincidence, serendipity, twist of fate, destiny, fortuity, providence, freak, hazard;
fate, Lady Luck, Dame Fortune;
North American happenstance
1.1Luck, especially good luck: only good fortune has prevented British casualties...
- They usually employed various psychological techniques to cope with and often even thrive upon any ill fortune that came their way.
- Maguire missed four of the last Cheltenham Festivals due to ill fortune.
- They have not reached this predicament simply through ill fortune.
Synonyms
luck, fate, destiny, predestination, the stars, fortuity, serendipity, karma, kismet, lot, what is written in the stars
1.2 (fortunes) The success or failure of a person or enterprise over a period of time: he is credited with turning round the company’s fortunes...
- The party's electoral fortunes also revived in the state elections and by-elections.
- He hoped that a successful outcome in the Special Election would reverse his sagging political fortunes.
- The club's fortunes have risen and declined again.
Synonyms
circumstances, state of affairs, condition, financial/material position, financial/material situation, financial/material status;
resources, means, finances, income;
plight, predicament;
station in life, lot, lifestyle;
future, prospects
2A large amount of money or assets: he inherited a substantial fortune...
- But it still amounts to a substantial fortune for him not to have a share of.
- In fact, only a handful of the wealthy allow their entire fortunes to be taxed.
- Not only does he smoke heavily, but he has made a substantial fortune out of selling and marketing tobacco, to the detriment of the health of many people.
Synonyms
wealth, riches, substance, property, assets, resources, means, deep pockets, possessions, treasure, estate;
affluence, prosperity
2.1 (a fortune) informal A surprisingly high price or amount of money: I spent a fortune on drink...
- It will not cost a fortune to buy, insurance is not needed, maintenance is minimal and a driving licence is not essential.
- Like all Kias, the Sorento will not cost you a fortune to buy or to run.
- Items such as modern hi-tech lamps can cost a fortune to buy but you haven't begun to count the real cost until you work out what you pay to travel with them.
Phrases
fortune favours the brave
the fortunes of war
make a (or one's) fortune
a small fortune
tell someone's fortune
Origin
Middle English: via Old French from Latin Fortuna, the name of a goddess personifying luck or chance.
The Roman goddess Fortuna, who personified luck or chance, gave us the English word fortune and fortuitous (mid 17th century). The saying fortune favours the brave, is found in English from the late 14th century, but the same idea can be traced back to classical times. The Roman poet Virgil included the line ‘audentes fortuna iuvat’ or ‘fortune favours the brave’ in his epic poem the Aeneid. See also hostage
Rhymes
Fortune 5002
noun trademark in the US
An annual list of the five hundred largest US industrial corporations, as measured by gross income: the product is targeted at Fortune 500 developers...
- Today, Mexico has some of the richest people in the world and companies listed on the Fortune 500.
- I don't expect the Fortune 500, the Forbes 1,000, or any other list like that, to create the jobs.
- Over 500 top corporations, including a number from the Fortune 500, take part in the program.
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