Fortuitousness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Fortuitous \For*tu"i*tous\, a. [L. fortuitus; akin to forte,
     adv., by chance, prop. abl. of fors, fortis, chance. See
     {Fortune}.]
     1. Happening by chance; coming or occuring unexpectedly, or
        without any known cause; chance; as, the fortuitous
        concourse of atoms.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              It was from causes seemingly fortuitous . . . that
              all the mighty effects of the Reformation flowed.
                                                    --Robertson.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              So as to throw a glancing and fortuitous light upon
              the whole.                            --Hazlitt.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (LAw) Happening independently of human will or means of
        foresight; resulting from unavoidable physical causes.
        --Abbott.
  
     Syn: Accidental; casual; contingent; incidental. See
          {Accidental}. -- {For*tu"i*tous*ly}, adv. --
          {For*tu"i*tous*ness}, n.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  fortuitousness
       n : the quality of happening accidentally and by lucky chance