Where does “misfortunate” come from?
misfortunate (English) comes from English misfortune, 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 — to bear, carry.
misfortunate (English): Having suffered misfortune; pitiable
Definitions
- Having suffered misfortune; pitiable
Ancestry of “misfortunate”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | misfortune | bad luck; an undesirable event such as an... |
| 2 | English | fortune | Destiny, especially favorable; A prediction or... |
| 3 | Middle English | fortune | fortune fate, chance |
| 4 | Old French | fortune | — |
| 5 | Latin | fortūna | — |
| 6 | Latin | fōrs | luck, chance |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | fortis | luck, chance |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰértis | the act of carrying, bearing |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰer- | to bear, carry |