For"tu*nate (?; 135), a. [L.
fortunatus, p. p. of fortunare to make fortunate or
prosperous, fr. fortuna. See Fortune,
n.] 1. Coming by good luck or
favorable chance; bringing some good thing not foreseen as certain;
presaging happiness; auspicious; as, a fortunate event; a
fortunate concurrence of circumstances; a fortunate
investment.
2. Receiving same unforeseen or unexpected
good, or some good which was not dependent on one's own skill or
efforts; favored with good forune; lucky.
Syn. -- Auspicious; lucky; prosperous; successful; favored;
happy. -- Fortunate, Successful, Prosperous. A
man is fortunate, when he is favored of fortune, and has
unusual blessings fall to his lot; successful when he gains
what he aims at; prosperous when he succeeds in those things
which men commonly desire. One may be fortunate, in some
cases, where he is not successful; he may be
successful, but, if he has been mistaken in the value of what
he has aimed at, he may for that reason fail to be
prosperous.
