Where does “fortune-teller” come from?
fortune-teller (English) comes from English fortune, from Middle English fortune, from Old French fortune, from Latin fortūna, from Latin fōrs, from Proto-Italic fortis, from Proto-Indo-European bʰértis, from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- — to bear, carry.
fortune-teller (English): A person who professes to predict the future in...
Definitions
- A person who professes to predict the future in...
Ancestry of “fortune-teller”, step by step
fortune-teller traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English fortune
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fortune | Destiny, especially favorable; A prediction or... |
| 2 | Middle English | fortune | fortune fate, chance |
| 3 | Old French | fortune | — |
| 4 | Latin | fortūna | — |
| 5 | Latin | fōrs | luck, chance |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | fortis | luck, chance |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰértis | the act of carrying, bearing |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰer- | to bear, carry |