fortunate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   presaging good fortune

   They made a fortunate decision to go to medical school.

2. 2
   adj

   having unexpected good fortune

   other, less fortunate, children died

3. 3
   adj

   Auspicious.

   It is a fortunate sign if the sun shines on a newly wedded couple.

4. 4
   adj

   Happening by good luck or favorable chance.

   Patrick was the unlikely match-winner as Berkeley earned a fortunate victory over Chisolm.

5. 5
   adj

   Favored by fortune.

   We were fortunate not to be fined for speeding.

6. 6
   adj

   supremely favored

Etymology

From Middle English fortunat(e) (“fortunate”), from Latin fortūnātus, from fortūna (“fortune, luck”) + -ātus (adjective-forming suffix), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix). See also Middle English fortunaten (“to assure the success (of), make fortunate”); cognate with French fortuné (“lucky”). By surface analysis, fortune + -ate.