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Where does the word "fortune" come from? It comes from Latin Fortuna, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
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Where does the word "fortune" come from? It comes from Latin Fortuna, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Fortune’s story begins in Latin: Fortuna meant “the goddess of luck.” The Roman goddess of luck and chance. It reached English by 1300s as fortune. Broadened from the goddess to chance itself, and later great wealth. Today, fortune means chance or luck as it affects a person's life, or a large amount of wealth.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient Fortuna "the goddess of luck", the Roman goddess of luck and chance.
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s fortune "chance or luck, or a large amount of wealth", broadened from the goddess to chance itself, and later great wealth.