Definition of Fortuitous

1. Adjective. Having no cause or apparent cause. "We cannot regard artistic invention as...uncaused and unrelated to the times"

Exact synonyms: Causeless, Uncaused
Similar to: Unintended
Derivative terms: Fortuitousness

2. Adjective. Occurring by happy chance. "Profits were enhanced by a fortuitous drop in the cost of raw materials"
Similar to: Fortunate
Derivative terms: Fortuitousness

Definition of Fortuitous

1. a. Happening by chance; coming or occuring unexpectedly, or without any known cause; chance; as, the fortuitous concourse of atoms.

Definition of Fortuitous

1. Adjective. Happening by chance; coincidental or accidental. ¹

2. Adjective. Happening by a lucky chance; lucky or fortunate. ¹

3. Adjective. (legal) Happening independently of human will. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Fortuitous

1. [adj]

Medical Definition of Fortuitous

1. 1. Happening by chance; coming or occuring unexpectedly, or without any known cause; chance; as, the fortuitous concourse of atoms. "It was from causes seemingly fortuitous . . . That all the mighty effects of the Reformation flowed." (Robertson) "So as to throw a glancing and fortuitous light upon the whole." (Hazlitt) 2. Happening independently of human will or means of foresight; resulting from unavoidable physical causes. Synonym: Accidental, casual, contingent, incidental. See Accidental. Fortu"itously, Fortu"itousness. Origin: L. Fortuitus; akin to forte, adv, by chance, prop. Abl. Of fors, fortis, chance. See Fortune. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Fortuitous

fortnight
fortnightlies
fortnightly
fortnights
fortravel
fortread
fortress
fortressed
fortresses
fortressing
fortresslike
forts
fortuit
fortuities
fortuitism
fortuitous
fortuitously
fortuitousness
fortuituous
fortuity
fortunate
fortunately
fortunateness
fortunatenesses
fortunates
fortune
fortune-teller
fortune-tellers
fortune-telling
fortune cookie

Literary usage of Fortuitous

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage by Inc. Merriam-Webster (1994)
"Forthright is in no danger of being usurped. fortuitous Our evidence at the present time is not conclusive, but it appears that sometime after World War ..."

2. The True Intellectual System of the Universe: Wherein All the Reason and by Ralph Cudworth, Johann Lorenz Mosheim (1845)
"The plain meaning whereof is this, that the first original of things, and the frame of the whole universe, proceeded from a mere fortuitous nature, ..."

3. The Law of Heredity: A Study of the Cause of Variation, and the Origin of by William Keith Brooks (1883)
"Darwin believes that variations are purely fortuitous—Natural selection cannot give rise to permanent race modifications unless many individuals vary in ..."

4. On the Genesis of Species by St. George Jackson Mivart (1871)
"There are Difficulties as to Minute Modifications, even if not fortuitous.—Examples of Sudden and Considerable Modifications of Different Kinds.—Prof. ..."

5. A Textbook of Botany for Colleges and Universities by John Merle Coulter, Charles Reid Barnes, Henry Chandler Cowles (1911)
"The theory of fortuitous variation. — The preceding considerations appear to show that protoplasm is not inherently adaptive. ..."

6. Historical Philosophy in France and French Belgium and Switzerland by Robert Flint (1894)
"Cournot considers it essential to a correct understanding of history to distinguish between necessary and fortuitous events, and to assign a considerable ..."

7. A History of Greek Philosophy from the Earliest Period to the Time of Socrates by Eduard Zeller (1881)
"... untrue to say that they derived motion from chance.2 Motion can only be called fortuitous, if by fortuitous we understand all that does not proceed from ..."

8. Principles of Economics by Frank William Taussig (1921)
"Unearned and fortuitous fortunes, 202 — Sec. 4. Unearned gains are mingled inextricably with earned, 203 — Sec. 5. Large fortunes as a spur to productive ..."

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