Word: fortuitous

Associations

"Fortuitous" means something that happens by chance, often in a good way. It suggests a lucky or unexpected occurrence.

• Example 1: "Winning the lottery was a fortuitous event for her." (This means she happened to win, and it was a lucky surprise.)
• Example 2: "Their meeting at the café was fortuitous, leading them to become best friends." (They met by chance, which turned out to be a very lucky moment.)
• Example 3: "Finding that rare book in the store was fortuitous." (It was unexpected and fortunate that they came across the book.)

A well-known synonym for "fortuitous" is "serendipitous". The main difference is that "serendipitous" often implies a pleasant surprise resulting from an accidental discovery, while "fortuitous" can simply mean happening by chance without the positive connotation.

Substitution

Instead of "fortuitous," you might use:

• "Accidental" (means it happened by chance but without a positive feeling).
• "Lucky" (gives a lighthearted and clear positive vibe).
• "Chance" (indicates randomness, not necessarily luck or positivity).

For instance:

• "Winning the lottery was an accidental event." (Less positive, just a random occurrence.)
• "Their meeting was lucky." (More casual and everyday language.)
• "Finding that book was a chance occurrence." (Neutral, doesn't emphasize luck.)

Deconstruction

The word "fortuitous" comes from the Latin root "fortuitus," which means "by chance." The prefix "fort" relates to luck or chance. There is no suffix. The root suggests the nature of the events it describes—occurrences that are unexpected but often hold some beneficial aspect.

Historically, "fortuitous" has been used in English since the 17th century to describe unplanned or accidental events, often with a positive outcome.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when something fortuitous happened to you?
• How would you feel if a fortuitous event occurred in a situation you'd planned carefully?
• What are some areas in life where being fortuitous can make a significant difference (e.g., friendships, career)?