Fortune sb.

Also 4–6 fortoun, 6 fortun. [a. F. fortune (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. fortuna, related to forti-, fors chance, and ferre to BEAR.]

  1.  Chance, hap, or luck, regarded as a cause of events and changes in men’s affairs. Often (after Latin) personified as a goddess, ‘the power supposed to distribute the lots of life according to her own humour’ (J.); her emblem is a wheel, betokening vicissitude.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 23719.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, I. 781 (837). Wele fynde I that Fortune is my fo.

1393.  Gower, Conf., III. 106.

1489.  Caxton, Faytes of A., III. xxi. 218. As longe as fortune was for them they spared nother ladies nor dameselles grete smalle nor lytel whan they toke the fortresses but they were all putte to raunson.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xv. 44. To fecht with fortoun is no wit.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., IV. iii. 47.

1683.  W. Hacke, Collect. Orig. Voy. (1699), I. 41. Yet Fortune did not favour them; for they were quickly compell’d to return what they took out of his Chest with Shame.

1770.  Junius Lett., xli. 212. Here … you have fortune on your side.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 497. When fortune changed, when he [James II.] was no longer afraid that others would persecute him, when he had it in his power to persecute others, his real propensities began to show themselves.

  b.  In the name of fortune: see NAME.

  † c.  phr. By fortune: by chance. Upon fortune: as it fell out. Obs.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 152.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), xxvi. 267. Þoghe it happene, sum of hem, be Fortune, to gon out.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), C vj. If ye gyue an abbaye to a foole, yf by fortune he fall, he wyll neuer releue agayn.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 226.

  d.  with a defining phrase added, as the fortune of war, etc.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 12.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, IV. xiv. Whan the toune is taken and goten by fortune of warre the Country aboute is not therfore more acertayned, but ouȝt to tremble and shake. Ibid. (c. 1489), Sonnes of Ayman, xxiv. 524. By fortune of wedryng, they were well eyght monethes vpon the see.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lvii. 191ú2. We be frenchmen, pylgrymes, & are goyng to offre at y^e holy sepulcre, for fortune of y^e se hath brought vs hyder.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 58, 20 Aug., ¶ 1. There was no Obligation of Honour or Virture to restrain his Desires towards one who was his by the Fortune of War.

1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), II. x. 177. It remained only, after the rupture of the treaty at Uxbridge, to try once more the fortune of war.

  e.  A soldier of fortune (see quots. 1802, 1810).

  (F. soldat de fortune is explained by Littré in the sense given in quot. 1810, but this meaning is rare in English).

1661.  Boyle, Style of Script. (1675), 186. Like War which is wont as well to raise Soldiers of Fortune as to Ruine Men of Fortune, Love warms and Elevates Lesser Wits, though it too often Infatuate the Great ones.

1685.  South, Serm. (1823), I. 212. Every Warrior may in some Sense be said to be a Soldier of Fortune; and the best Commanders to have a kind of Lottery for their Work, as, amongst us, they have for a Reward.

1775.  R. H. Lee, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), I. 13. The particulars of their conduct I refer you to Mr. Frazer for, who comes fresh from thence, and who goes to the camp a soldier of fortune.

1802.  C. James, Milit. Dict., Soldier of Fortune. During the frequent wars which occurred in Italy, before the military profession became so generally prevalent in Europe, it was usual for men of enterprise and reputation to offer their services to the different states that were engaged. They afterwards extended their services, and under the title of soldiers of fortune fought for employment in every country or state that would pay them. Ibid. (1810, ed. 3), s.v. Fortune.… A soldier of Fortune. A military man who has risen from the ranks by his own merit.

1850.  Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Monast. Ord. (1863), 338. He then enlisted in the army, served in the wars between Charles V. and Francis I., and became a brave, reckless, profligate soldier of fortune.

1889.  J. Corbett, Monk, xi. 156. Finding the situation was getting beyond him [Monk], he patiently resumed his unassailable position of the obedient and disinterested soldier of fortune.

  † 2.  A chance, hap, accident; an event or incident befalling any one, an adventure. Obs.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 157. As þis fortune bi-fel · þat i told of bi-fore.

c. 1500.  Melusine, xiii. 49. The Erle thought euer on Raymondyn and his lady, and said in hym self that somme Fortune he had fonde at the fontayne of soyf.

1579.  Fenton, Guicciard., I. 26. He might be well assured that in all accidents and fortunes, that Citie should not faile to minister to him all those conuenient effects, of office, obseruance and deuotion which of long time they had borne to the Crowne of France.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 23. What euer fortune stayes him from his word.

1655.  T. Stanley, Hist. Philos., III. (1701) 75/1. Many other good Fortunes happening to the Athenians upon this day are Recorded by Ælian.

1726.  Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, Pref. A iv. The following Sheets are a Detail of Fortunes I have run through for many Years; and however extraordinary they may appear, I shall give you the Circumstances for Truth.

  † b.  A mishap, disaster. To run a fortune (= F. courir fortune de): to ran a risk. Obs.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn and Eglantine, xxxii. 121. Wher they arryued in fewe dayes wythout eny fortune.

c. 1500.  Three Kings’ Sons (E.E.T.S.), 67. It was tyme nowe to leue of alle sorowe & lamentacion for any fortune that was befalle.

1627.  Lisander & Cal., II. 29. I had rather run a fortune in giuing way vnto your desire, than refuse you so small a matter as my sight.

  3.  The chance or luck (good or bad) which falls to any one as his lot in life or in a particular affair. Also in pl. † Extreme fortune (= L. res extremæ): the last extremity.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., II. metr. iii. 27 (Camb. MS.). Wolthow thanne trusten in the tomblynge fortunes of men.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 1177. Ne had my fortune bene faire, fey had I leuede!

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, 2. First begynneth the lyf of Esope with alle his fortune how he was subtyll, wyse, and borne in Grece.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccii. 698. He that hath any yuell fortune, men wyll speke the worst therof.

1531.  Elyot, Governour, II. ii. (1534), 100 b. It is no lyttell thyng to meruayle at, the maiestie shewed in extreme fortune and mysery.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., 5 b. Thanking God for their safe meeting, and good fortune in this their first brunt of daunger and perill.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., IV. v. 48. To know if it were my Masters fortune to haue her, or no.

1607–12.  Bacon, Ess., Of Fortune. Chieflie the mould of a Mans fortune is in himself.

1699.  Dampier, Voy., II. II. 22. It was my fortune to be at the Helm from 6 a Clock in the Evening till 8.

1726.  Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 125. The Women of Morocco, I mean all that I had the Fortune to see, were very handsome, fine large full Eyes, round Faces, and every Feature exact.

1752.  Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), I. 3. Good or ill fortune is very little at our disposal.

1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), III. xvi. 232. Scotland was now doomed to wait on the fortunes of her more powerful ally; and, on his invasion of England, the noisy partisans of hereditary right discredited their faction by its cowardice.

1852.  Thackeray, Esmond, II. iii. Some good fortune at last occurred to a family which stood in great need of it.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., iii. § 2. 121. On the fortunes of Philip hung the fortunes of English freedom.

  b.  attributed to things, purposes, undertakings.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., Pref. (1845), p. xxxiii. They that would compleat the Good Fortune of these Papers.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 130.

1769.  W. Robertson, Chas. V., II. IV. 227. But the fortune of the day was quickly changed.

1880.  McCarthy, Own Times, IV. lx. 324. The fortunes of the war were virtually decided in a day.

  c.  phr. To try one’s fortune: to make trial how it will turn out (with the hope of its proving favorable). Similarly (with mixture of senses 5, 6) to seek one’s fortune.

1573.  Baret, Alv., F 955. I will aduenture, or trie and seeke my fortune.

1700.  S. L., trans. C. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 13. My advice would be to any one that hath a mind to see the Indies, and to try his Fortune with freedom, to go among the English, who with more honour and generosity give a Man the liberty to advance himself.

a. 1745.  Swift, Wks. 1754, IV. 53. He was the younger son to a gentleman of a good birth, but small estate, and his father dying, he was driven to London to seek his fortune.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. x. To seek his fortune at sea, or rather, indeed, to fly away from his fortune on shore.

1790.  Willock, Voy., 94. They had sailed from Dunkirk in April, 1783, and had been till then, cruzing in the Spanish main, and taken some prizes; but before they left those seas, they thought proper to sail towards the western isles, and try their fortune a little longer.

  d.  That which is to befall a person in the future: chiefly in phr. to tell a person his fortune and to tell fortunes (said of would-be seers).

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, IV. 639.

1413.  Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. v. 60. Alisandre the grete kyng was somtyme in a full fer and sauage countre, where he fond two trees, that were cleped of the sonne and of the mone, whiche trees told hym his fortunes.

1647.  Cowley, Mistress, My Fate, 19.

1668.  Pepys, Diary, 11 Aug. This afternoon my wife, and Mercer, and Deb, went with Pelling to see the gypsies at Lambeth, and have their fortunes told.

1688.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2375/2. The Visier then demanded, if he could tell his own Fortune?

1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xi. They [gypsies] were great thieves, and told fortunes, and played all manner of tricks.

  4.  absol. (= good fortune): Good luck; success, prosperity.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 166.

c. 1490.  Adam Bel & Clym of Clough, 429, in Ritson, Anc. Pop. P., 21.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xxix. 43. He was entred into such fortune and grace of the people, that all thynge was done that he dydde.

1546.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 62.

1596.  Harington, Metam. Ajax (1814), 5–6. An excellent antiquary and a herald, by great fortune, found it [his pedigree] out in an old church book.

1625.  Bacon, Ess., Ep. Ded. (Arb.), 498. Your Fortune, and Merit both, haue beene Eminent.

a. 1698.  Temple, Misc., II. Wks. 1720, I. 163. The experimental Proof of this Terrestrial Globe, which was before only Speculation, but has since been surrounded by the Fortune and Boldness of several Navigators.

1855.  Motley, Dutch Rep., I. ii. (1866), 98. Saint Quentin being thus reduced, Philip was not more disposed to push his fortune.

  5.  One’s condition or standing in life; often absol. a prosperous condition, as in to make one’s fortune = to win a good position in the world. Also pl.

1600.  Shaks., As You Like It, I. ii. 263. My pride fell with my fortunes.

1649.  Milton, Eikon., 14. A private conscience sorts not with a public Calling; but declares that Person rather meant by nature for a private fortune.

1677.  Dryden, State Innoc., V. i.

1680.  Otway, Orphan, I. i.

1683.  W. Hacke, Collect. Orig. Voy. (1699), I. 23. Had Reason but ruled them, we might all have made our Fortunes, and have done no Christian Prince nor their Subjects any Harm at all.

1807–8.  W. Irving, Salmagundi (1824), 285. If you only now and then make a man laugh, your fortune is made.

1886.  Ruskin, Præterita, I. v. 141–2. John, with wider business habits than the rest, went soon to push his fortune in Australia, and did so.

  6.  Position as determined by wealth; amount of wealth; concr. a person’s possessions collectively, wealth, ‘substance’; † formerly also pl. in the same senses. A man, etc., of fortune: one possessing great (usually inherited) wealth. Also (with a. and pl.) a stock of wealth, accumulated by an individual or received by inheritance, as a marriage portion, etc.; ordinarily implying a somewhat ample amount. Phr. to make a, one’s fortune.

  A small fortune (colloq.): used hyperbolically to designate the extravagantly large amount paid for some object of expenditure.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., VI. ix. 30.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well that ends Well, III. vii. 14.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 123. He paid much too dear for his Wife’s Fortune, by taking her Person into the bargain.

1653.  H. More, Antid. Ath., Ep. Ded. (1712), 4. Your Ladyship’s Wisdom and Judgment can never be highly enough commended, that makes the best use that may be of those ample Fortunes that Divine Providence has bestowed upon you.

1725.  Berkeley, Proposal, Wks. III. 222. There is no prospect of making a fortune by this small trade. Ibid. (1732), Alciphr., I. § 12. Euph. By your account there must be many Minute Philosophers among the Men of Rank and Fortune.

1791.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, iii. ‘I am the only child,’ said Adeline, ‘of Louis de St. Pierre, a chevalier of family, but of small fortune.’

a. 1800[?].  Song.

1836.  Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xx. 139. Imagined them, from their being in plain clothes, to be young Englishmen of fortune on their travels.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 39, The Republic, Introduction. They would have nothing to do with persons whose lives were of no use either to themselves or to others, even though they might have made large fortunes out of them.

1886.  Sir J. Pearson, in Law Rep., 32, Ch. Div. 46. The liability of the partners in an ordinary partnership is unlimited, and every one of the partners is liable to the full extent of his fortune for all the debts incurred by the partnership.

  † 7.  Short for: A woman of fortune; an heiress.

1655.  A. Johnson, in The Nicholas Papers (Camden), II. 251. The Earl of Middlesex is to marry the Lady Bath (one of the greatest fortunes here).

1676.  D’Urfey, Madam Fickle, III. ii. She’s his Neece, a Widow, an approv’d fortune.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 19, 22 March, ¶ 2. He points to such an handsom Young Fellow, and whispers that he is secretly married to a Great Fortune.

1752.  Fielding, Amelia, II. ii. ‘She certainly was handsome,’ answered he, ‘and a very considerable fortune.’

1823.  Byron, Juan, XII. xxxii.

  8.  Astrol. A name for the planets Jupiter and Venus (see also quot. 1819).

1671.  Salmon, Syn. Med., I. viii. 22. A Planet is said to be a Fortune when he is conjoyned to the Fortunes or beseiged of them or their beams.

1679.  Moxon, Math. Dict., Fortunes, The two benevolent Planets ♃ and ♀, by reason of their kind and friendly Nature, are generally so called.

1819.  J. Wilson, Dict. Astrol., s.v. The Sun … The Moon and Mercury are likewise esteemed as fortunes when well aspected by ♃ and ♀ and free from affliction.

1855.  Smedley, Occult Sciences, 309. Jupiter, ‘the greater fortune,’ is the author of temperance, modesty, sobriety, and justice; he rules the lungs and blood, and the last month in gestation; he is represented of a golden colour, riding upon a lion.

  9.  Comb., as fortune-maker; † fortune-hit, -curst, -proof, -trodden adjs.; also fortune-book, ‘a book consulted to know fortune or future events’ (J.); † fortune-flinger, humorous for FORTUNE-TELLER; † fortune-speller = FORTUNE-TELLER; † fortune-stealer, one who runs off with an heiress; so † fortune-stealing.

1682.  Mrs. Behn, City Heiress, 56. Was ever man thus *Fortune-bit, that he shou’d cross my hopes just in the nick?

1646.  Crashaw, Love’s Horosc., 11.

1649.  G. Daniel, Trinarch., Rich. II., cxcvii.

1642.  Shirley, Sisters, III. i.

a. 1616.  Beaum. & Fl., Bonduca, I. i.

1656.  Duchess of Newcastle, True Relat. Nature’s Pict., 383. And Misery hath tried us, and finds us *Fortune-proof.

1652.  Gaule, Πῦς-μαντία, the Mag-astro-mancer, 23. Away then with all superstitious hearkning to weather-wizzards, Planet Prognosticators, and *fortune spellers.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 311, 26 Feb., ¶ 1. You have never given us a Picture of those audacious young Fellows among us, who commonly go by the Name of *Fortune-Stealers.

1680.  Otway, Orphan, Epilogue, 18.

1622.  H. Sydenham, Serm. Sol. Occ., II. (1637), 137. Hee that’s *fortune-trodden.