Fortune
/ˈfɔː.tʃən/noun
A chance event or favorable circumstance; luck.
Did you know?The word 'fortune' is rooted in the Roman goddess Fortuna, who controlled fate and chance, often depicted with a wheel symbolizing the ups and downs of life.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhergh-
“to rise, to lift up, to carry”
Latin
Latin
fortuna
“chance, luck, fortune, the goddess of luck”
Old French
Old French
fortune
“luck, fate, chance”
Middle English
Middle English
fortune
“chance, luck, fortune”
Modern English
English
fortune
“favorable conditions or luck, often personified as a goddess”
Explore more surprising origins