fortune

Definitions

fortun (luck, fate) is the whole word — fortune is luck or destiny itself, the favor handed out by the Roman goddess Fortuna. Because the people luck favored tended to grow rich, the word slid from 'good luck' to 'a large amount of wealth' (he made a fortune). Same word, two layers: the abstract turn of fate and the concrete pile of money it can produce.

Why It Means This

Picture the Roman goddess Fortuna turning her great wheel — a spin lifts you up, the next drops you down. That neutral image of luck is the original 'fortune.' The wealth sense came later by association: whoever Fortuna favored ended up rich, so 'a fortune' became the riches themselves. This is why idioms still split both ways: 'fortune favours the bold' (luck) versus 'cost a fortune' (money).

Common Collocations

• 1.make a fortune发大财
• 2.cost a fortune花一大笔钱
• 3.good fortune好运
• 4.fortune favours the bold天助勇者
• 5.a vast fortune巨额财富

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She made a fortune selling handmade jewelry online.

• 2.

  As a young actor, he had the good fortune to meet a famous director.

• 3.

  That sports car must have cost a small fortune.

• 4.

  Fortune favours the bold, so take the risk and apply.

Synonym Comparison