fortune
part of speech
noun (a fortune, fortunes; fortune — uncountable)
meaning for a pupil
1) A very large amount of money: «That car cost a fortune». tree →
2) Luck, good or bad, especially luck that affects your life: «good fortune». tree →
3) What will happen to a person in the future: «tell someone's fortune». tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: It is good luck. Leah says it at the birth of Gad, whose name means "luck." It also means a person's condition in life, as when God changed Job's fortune. In Isaiah "Fortune" is the name of a false god of luck. Interpretation: Leah's naming of Gad is read as her joy at having another son. God restoring Job's fortune after he prayed for his friends is read as a reward for his kindness. Isaiah scolds those who set a table for "Fortune," as trusting luck instead of God. In the primary lessons: In stories heroes «seek their fortune» (go out into the world to become rich and happy). «A fortune teller» says she can see the future — in real life nobody can. Phrases: «cost a fortune», «make a fortune», «good fortune», «by good fortune», «fortune cookie».
examples
- And Leah said: 'Fortune is come!' And she called his name Gad. (Torah GEN.30.11, JPS 1917) tree →
- And the LORD changed the fortune of Job, when he prayed for his friends; and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Writings JOB.42.10, JPS 1917) tree →
- But ye that forsake the LORD, that forget My holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that offer mingled wine in full measure unto Destiny, (Prophets ISA.65.11, JPS 1917) tree →
- The pirates hoped to find a fortune in gold. tree →
- That new phone must have cost a fortune! tree →
- By good fortune, it stopped raining just before the race. tree →
- Jack left home to seek his fortune. tree →
- The fortune teller said I would travel far. tree →
- My fortune cookie said, "Kindness brings joy." tree →
- She made a fortune selling her inventions. tree →
- It is most extraordinary good fortune." tree →
note
«Fortune» meaning luck is uncountable. «A fortune» means lots of money (often exaggerated: «cost a fortune» = very expensive). Adjective: fortunate (lucky); unfortunate (unlucky). Fortune telling is not science; it cannot really predict the future.
In the corpora
- And Leah said: 'Fortune is come!' And she called his name Gad.
- In China bats have long been a sign of good luck, because the word for bat sounds like the word for good fortune.
- Long ago they came from far away and were worth a fortune.
- "Lady Luck" means chance or fortune, spoken of as if she were a person.
- Fortune tellers and horoscopes use general statements that fit almost anyone; there is no evidence they predict the future.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «fortune» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.