What comes to mind when you hear the word fortune? Is it fate, happiness, money, or luck? Maybe you think of misfortune, sadness, disaster, or losing money. Some things that come to mind when thinking of the optimistic meaning of the word are fortune cookies, fortune telling, good fortune, Fortune Magazine’s Fortune 500, family fortune, Wheel of Fortune, and Soldier of Fortune. On the other hand, the word can also be understood in a negative manner. Misfortune, A Series of Unfortunate Events, less fortunate, and losing a fortune are some ways in which the word takes on a pessimistic meaning. Depending on how the word is used it can either take on a positive or negative meaning in a person’s life.
Although the word fortune is understood in various ways, the basic definition, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, is “a hypothetical force or personified power that unpredictably determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably” (2011). A person can use the word fortune in this manner when explaining life events, such as, “She was blessed with good fortune because her house withstood the devastation of the storm” or “It is unfortunate that she was unable to secure her belongings before the storm hit.” Other definitions of the word according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary are, “[fortune is] prosperity attained partly through luck, a prediction of fortune, a store of material possessions , or a large sum of money” (2011). When you think of these definitions of the word you may think of fortune tellers, fortune cookies, spending a fortune on a new car, or even losing a fortune in Vegas. Either way you look at it, fortune can be akin to flipping a coin. Think of it as having a 50/50 chance of hearing good or bad news in terms of life, money, and prosperity. These definitions of fortune are well known, but what is in the history of the word?
Believe it or not, the word fortune has a long history. Fortune, as shown in the Online Etymology Dictionary is as follows: “c.1300, “chance, luck as a force in human affairs,” from O.Fr. fortune “lot, good fortune, misfortune” (12c.), from L. fortuna “chance, fate, good luck,” from fors (gen. fortis) “chance, luck,” possibly from PIE *bhrtu- and related to base *bher- (1) “to carry.” Often personified as a goddess; her wheel betokens vicissitude. Sense of “owned wealth” first found in Spenser; probably it evolved from senses of “one’s condition or standing in life,” hence “position as determined by wealth,” then “wealth” itself. Soldier of fortune first attested 1660s. Fortune 500 “most profitable American companies” is 1955, from the list published annually in “Fortune” magazine.” (Harper, 2011).
The meaning of the word began as chance, luck, or fate in human affairs and evolved into wealth or a person’s standing in life. Soldier of Fortune and Fortune 500 followed later in history. To some, fortune is something that occurs in life whether it is good or bad, chance or premeditated, good luck or hard work. Fortune can be earned or given, recognized or unnoticed, life-changing or life-threatening, pleasant or dreadful. Fortune is what you make of something or how you view the events of your life. For instance, “She is fortunate to have a wonderful family” or “Her day was filled with misfortune.” With all this in mind, how does the average person use the word fortune?
In today’s society, people use the word fortune in every way without regard to the different definitions of the word. It is, after all, just another word. A fortune teller reads your fortune. People watch Wheel of Fortune on TV or win a fortune through gambling. Fortune Magazine’s Fortune 500 list may appeal to the business-minded community. A person may spend a fortune on new shoes. These are just a few of several ways the word fortune is used in casual conversation. The phrase Soldier of Fortune uses the word in an interesting way. A soldier of fortune, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary is, “one who follows a military career wherever there is promise of profit, adventure, or pleasure” (2011). The first known use of Soldier of Fortune was in 1661. People may find the use of fortune, in this sense, to be intriguing and exciting. A soldier of fortune boasts of a life full of adventure and is attractive because it’s an escape from the norm – an escape from the boredom of everyday life. Another use of the word fortune can be found in an interesting quote by Athenian playwright, Euripides in which he stated, “Fortune truly helps those who are of good judgment” (n.d., p. 3). What this quote means is that good fortune helps those who have good judgment in life because of the smart decisions they make. You can even interpret this quote to mean those who have good judgment or a positive frame of mind will recognize when good fortune smiles on them. Based on this information, you can see how people benefit emotionally or monetarily when the word fortune is used in a positive manner.
The word fortune is used in several ways and most people have an understanding of the word in its different forms. Although fortune is used in various ways, the word may hold the greatest pleasure when it is used in a way that brightens the lives of people who seldom experience good fortune. When you can be grateful for a miraculous, life-changing event you can truly understand the deeper meaning of the word fortune and can appreciate the things many take for granted. In contrast, you can be met with misfortune throughout life and only experience the negative aspect of the word. As you can see, the word fortune can take on a positive or negative meaning in a person’s life depending on how the word is used.
Sources: Euripides, Quotes by Euripides, Quotationsbook.com; Fortune, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary; Harper, D. Online Etymology Dictionary; Soldier of Fortune, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
