| fortuitous | 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) |
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