\For"tu*nate\ (?; 135), a. [L. fortunatus, p. p. of
fortunare to make fortunate or prosperous, fr. fortuna. See
{Fortune}, n.]
1. Coming by good luck or favorable chance; bringing some
   good thing not foreseen as certain; presaging happiness;
   auspicious; as, a fortunate event; a fortunate concurrence
   of circumstances; a fortunate investment.
2. Receiving same unforeseen or unexpected good, or some good
   which was not dependent on one's own skill or efforts;
   favored with good forune; lucky.
Syn: Auspicious; lucky; prosperous; successful; favored;
     happy.
Usage: {Fortunate}, {Successful}, {Prosperous}. A man is
       fortunate, when he is favored of fortune, and has
       unusual blessings fall to his lot; successful when he
       gains what he aims at; prosperous when he succeeds in
       those things which men commonly desire. One may be
       fortunate, in some cases, where he is not successful;
       he may be successful, but, if he has been mistaken in
       the value of what he has aimed at, he may for that
       reason fail to be prosperous.