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FORTUNATE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Presaging good fortune
Example:
rosy predictions
Synonyms:
fortunate; rosy
Classified under:
Similar:
auspicious (auguring favorable circumstances and good luck)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Supremely favored
Example:
fortunate son
Synonyms:
fortunate; golden
Classified under:
Similar:
blessed; blest (highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace))
Sense 3
Meaning:
Having unexpected good fortune
Example:
a fortunate choice
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
better off (in a more fortunate or prosperous condition)
felicitous; happy (marked by good fortune)
fortuitous (occurring by happy chance)
good; well (resulting favorably)
heaven-sent; miraculous; providential (peculiarly fortunate or appropriate; as if by divine intervention)
lucky (occurring by chance)
well-off (fortunately situated)
Also:
lucky (having or bringing good fortune)
privileged (blessed with privileges)
successful (having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome)
Antonym:
unfortunate (not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune)
Context examples:
“How fortunate we are, too,” I returned, to have arrived to witness their happiness in that intended marriage!
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The ladies were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper window that he wore a blue coat, and rode a black horse.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
I could not be so fortunate.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
“My dear Frankenstein,” exclaimed he, “how glad I am to see you! How fortunate that you should be here at the very moment of my alighting!”
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
I did myself the honour of calling in Berkeley Street last Tuesday, and very much regretted that I was not fortunate enough to find yourselves and Mrs. Jennings at home.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
It was fortunate the Tin Woodman had no heart at that moment, for it would have beat loud and fast from terror.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
But I gather from his dress, he continued, running his eye over me, that you have been more fortunate in prize-money than most of your comrades.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“It is fortunate for this community that I am not a criminal.”
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“Ah,” said Silver, “it were fortunate for me that I had Hawkins here. You would have let old John be cut to bits, and never given it a thought, doctor.”
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
It was fortunate that tea was at hand, to produce a lull and provide refreshment—for they would have been hoarse and faint if they had gone on much longer.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
