Middle English Dictionary Entry
fortūnāt adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | fortūnāt adj. Also fortenat. |
| Etymology | L ppl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons: favored by fortune, lucky, prosperous, successful; (b) of actions or events: attended by success, successful; (c) of things: producing happiness, beneficent, blessed; iles ~, the mythological islands of the blest, the isles of paradise; time ~, the Golden Age.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.3966 : Whan a man hath been in poure estaat And clymbeth vp and wexeth fortunat.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.441 : Mi silf I holde so passynge fortunat.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)104a/b : Þe same maner did romanus and Boemous, fortunate restorous [*Ch.(2): happy leches; L restauratores fortunati].
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)61/28 : He were ryght fortunate that myght haue hir.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)37 : Wold God..I had be borne..So fortunate, that I myhte of rihte Do trewe servyce.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)3081 : The men of perce that day were fortenat; The toder fled.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2245 : What is worþe a gynnyng fortunat Þat caused after strif and gret debat?
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2658 : Bi fortunat violence Whan that a wrech, cherlissh of nature, Thestat of princis vnwarli doth recure.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.321 : Insule Fortunate þat beeþ þe gracious ilondes..by cause of plente of corne and of fruyt þey beeþ icleped Fortunat, þat is, gracious.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.422 : Thus Walter lowely, nay but roially, Wedded with fortunat honestetee.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3399 : Þanne I hope þe tyme fortunat, Of þe olde worlde called aureat, Resorte shal by influence of grace.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)272 : Me semeþ mor is Fortunat Of Mercurye þe soote sugred harpe Than Mars swerd.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.321 : Men inhabitenge theyme calle theym the yles fortunate or happy.
- c1475 Why Nun (Vsp D.9)198 : Where that selfewylle ys reygnyng..That howse may not be fortunate.
2.
(a) Favorable, gracious, beneficent, friendly; (b) astrol. of stars, hours, etc.: favoring the success of (a person, an undertaking), propitious.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.917 : He schal be meke and pacient And fortunat to Marchandie.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6135 : Ȝe han þe goddis founde Her-toward benigne and fortunat.
- c1450 Myght wisdom (Add 31042)73 : Blissed ben thyn Eres, solayne fortunate, þe friste ȝates of oure saluacyoun.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)39 : Lord, hiest of myth, fayrest of beute, moost fortunat to pees and trancquillite.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1970 : In swich estat The heuene stood, that tyme fortunat Was for to putte a bille of Venus werkes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)116a/a : By conyunccioun of þe body of þe mone wiþ sterris fortunat comeþ dredeful sikenes to good ende.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1636 : To chese an hour þat were conuenient And fortunat..To make and werke sondry apparences.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6254 : Planetis..swiche as be fortunat To viage or Iourne.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.4 : The lord of the ascendent may be shapen for to be fortunat or infortunat, as thus:--A fortunat ascendent clepen they whan that no wicked planete..is in the hous of the ascendent..But thei wol caste that thei have a fortunat planete in hir ascendent.
- c1450 Metham Days Moon (Gar 141)150/27 : The viij ys fortunat to alle verkys..that day ys fortunat to pase the see with marchaundyse, yff the wynde serue.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)38b : For the white worke, make fortunat the mone.