fortuitous

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He perceived clearly the enormity of his offense, but, because he was the same John in every other respect, he had a feeling that somehow the fact that _he_ had done the thing was purely fortuitous -- in other words, that the bonds had to be taken, were going to be taken anyway, and that Fate had simply elected him to take them.

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Definitions (9)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. adjective Happening by accident or chance. See Synonyms at accidental.
  2. adjective Usage Problem Happening by a fortunate accident or chance.
  3. adjective Usage Problem Lucky or fortunate.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (2)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples

  • When he was able to see without his crude sunshades, he stowed them carefully in his pack, then reviewed his limited stock of food. —  Sentenced To Prism
  • Nonetheless, these edibles were suspiciously fortuitous-unless Neysa had known of this place and come here deliberately. —  Split Infinity
  • "It is fortuitous, " he heard Truzenzuzex remark, 'that you know each other. —  Tar Aiym Krang
  • The visit was fortuitous, the decision impulsive and he was later to look back on that afternoon as one of life's bizarre coincidences which, although occurring more frequently than reason would expect, never fail to surprise. —  The Murder Room
  • He perceived clearly the enormity of his offense, but, because he was the same John in every other respect, he had a feeling that somehow the fact that _he_ had done the thing was purely fortuitous -- in other words, that the bonds had to be taken, were going to be taken anyway, and that Fate had simply elected him to take them. —  True Stories of Crime From the District Attorney's Office
 

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Fortuitous has been looked up 665 times, favorited twice, listed 68 times, and commented on twice.

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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin fortuītus; see bher-1 in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. = French fortuit = Spanish Portuguese Italian fortuito, from Latin fortuitus, casual, accidental, from for(t-)s, chance (cf. ablative forte, by chance): see fortune.
 

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/forˈtjuɪtəs/
by American Heritage
by Parker Smith

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