Fortune Meaning
Fortune Definition & Usage
Wealth or abundance of material possessions.
Examples
- "After years of hard work, he finally amassed a great fortune."
- "The lottery winner was overjoyed to discover his sudden fortune."
- "Their fortune came from their investments in real estate."
- "The billionaire's fortune is spread across several industries."
- "She inherited a small fortune from her grandmother."
Good luck or chance, often referring to the favorable outcome of events.
Examples
- "His success in business was largely due to fortune, not skill."
- "She hoped that fortune would smile upon her during the competition."
- "It was pure fortune that he found his lost wallet on the street."
- "They believed that fortune would favor them in the end."
- "Some people think that fortune is just a matter of timing."
To acquire or gain wealth or success, often unexpectedly.
Examples
- "He fortuned into a great deal of money after investing in tech stocks."
- "The family fortuned through a series of lucky business deals."
- "After many years of struggle, they finally fortuned with a successful startup."
- "She fortuned her way into a high-paying job in finance."
- "It wasn’t skill that helped him; it was just the way things fortuned for him."
Cultural Context
The word 'fortune' has historical roots in both wealth and luck. In many cultures, 'fortune' is not just a literal wealth but also something influenced by fate or destiny. The Latin 'fortuna' refers to chance, fate, or luck, and was personified as a goddess in Roman mythology. Over time, the word evolved to also refer to material wealth, and it remains a central concept in discussions about success and prosperity.
The Fortune Teller's Gift
Story
The Fortune Teller's Gift
In a small village nestled among the hills, there lived a humble woman named Eliza who had little more than a small cottage and a vegetable garden. One day, as she was returning from the market, she encountered an old fortune teller, known for her uncanny predictions. Curious, Eliza decided to visit the woman’s tent, despite her skepticism about such things. As she sat down, the fortune teller took her hand and stared into her eyes, murmuring softly, 'Fortune will smile on you soon, child.' Eliza chuckled, dismissing it as a mere coincidence, but the words stayed with her. Months passed, and one evening as Eliza was walking home, she stumbled upon an old coin lying in the dirt. At first, she thought nothing of it, but something about the coin caught her eye. She took it home, cleaned it, and discovered that it was a rare, valuable artifact. The news spread quickly, and within weeks, Eliza found herself the owner of an unexpected fortune. Her garden and cottage became a popular spot for tourists, and soon, she was selling rare herbs and plants to wealthy buyers. But as her wealth grew, so did her worries. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that her good fortune had come about by pure chance, not through any effort of her own. She began to reflect on the fortune teller's words and wondered if her newfound success was a gift from fate. As her life changed, Eliza came to understand that while fortune had smiled on her, it could just as easily turn away. With her wealth came responsibilities, and she found herself pondering how best to use her fortune, not just for herself, but for others in need. In the end, Eliza decided to share her wealth with the village, building schools and helping families who had been struggling. She realized that while fortune had brought her wealth, it was how she chose to use it that truly mattered. And so, her fortune, once a mere stroke of luck, became a force for good in her community, forever reminding her that fortune was not just about what one gained, but how one gave back.
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