Fōrt'ū-nate, a.
a. [Lat. fortunatus, p. p. of fortunare, to make fortunate or prosperous, It. fortunato, Sp. fortunado, Pr. fortunat, Fr. fortune*. See FORTUNE.]
Sense 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 ticket in a lottery.
Sense 2. Receiving some unforeseen or unexpected good, or some good which was not dependent on one's own skill or efforts; lucky.
Synonyms—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 his plans are badly formed, he may for that reason fail to be prosperous.
No; there is a necessity in fate Why still the brave, bold man is fortunate. Dryden.
He observed the illustrious throng, Their names, their fates, their conduct, and their care, In peaceful senate and successful war. Dryden.
We now return To claim our just inheritance of old, Surer to prosper than prosperity Could have assured us. Milton.