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Definition of Fortuitous
1. Adjective. Having no cause or apparent cause. "We cannot regard artistic invention as...uncaused and unrelated to the times"
2. Adjective. Occurring by happy chance. "Profits were enhanced by a fortuitous drop in the cost of raw materials"
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
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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