a. Obs. Also 7 -ite. [a. F. fortuit, ad. L. fortuitus: see FORTUITOUS.] Fortuitous.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., V. pr. 1. 117 (Camb. MS.). Thise ben thanne the causes of the abregginge of fortuit hap, the which abregginge of fortuit hap comth of causes encountringe and flowinge to-gidere to hem-self, and nat by the entencioun of the doer.
1530. Palsgr., Introd. 16. Utterly fortuyt and done by chaunce.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iii. v. False feares and all other fortuit inuonueniences, mischances, calamities, to resist and prepare our selues, not to faint or to be discouraged at all.
1668. M. Casaubon, Credulity (1670), 15. That the world was made by a fortuit concourse of Atomes.
Hence † Fortuitness.
1643. Sir K. Digby, Observ. Religio Medici (1659), 18. There is no fortuitnesse or contingency of things, in respect of themselves, but onely in respect of us, that are ignorant of their certaine, and necessary causes.
