Fortune: Fortune literally means 'what is… | etymologist.ai
fortune
/ˈfɔːrtʃən/·noun·c. 1300·Established
Origin
From Latin 'fortūna' (chance, luck), from 'fors' (chance), from PIE *bʰer- (to carry) — fortune is what fate carries to you.
Definition
Chance or luck as an arbitrary force affecting human affairs; a large amount of money or assets; the success or failure of a person or enterprise over time.
The Full Story
Latin13th centurywell-attested
From OldFrench fortune, from Latin fortuna (chance, fate, luck), derived from fors (chance), from PIE *bher- (to carry, to bear). The conceptual core is what fate bears or brings to you — fortune is that which is carried toward one by chance. Latin fortuna was personified as a goddess who distributed luck arbitrarily, often depicted with a wheel symbolising her
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Fortune literally means 'what is carried to you' — from PIE *bʰer- (to carry), the same root as English 'bear.' The Roman goddess Fortuna was depicted with a wheel — spinning fate toward and away from mortals. Our word 'fortuitous' (happening by chance) is a sibling, while 'forte' (one
in Indo-European etymology. Key roots: *bʰer- (disputed) (Proto-Indo-European: "to carry, bear — the derivation fors/fortuna from *bʰer- is one theory, not settled; many scholars consider the origin of fors uncertain").