Used to express satisfaction or relief about a fact or situation; in a way that is lucky or favorable.
Formed from 'fortunate' plus '-ly,' sharing the same Latin root as 'unfortunately.' 'Fortunate' comes from Latin 'fortunatus,' meaning 'made prosperous by fortune.' The word maintains its connection to Fortuna, the Roman goddess of chance, reflecting ancient beliefs that good outcomes were gifts from divine forces beyond human control.
Fortunately is essentially a modern prayer of gratitude disguised as an adverb—when we use it, we're acknowledging that things could have gone differently and expressing relief that they didn't. It reveals our deep awareness that much of life is beyond our control, making it a humble word despite its positive connotations.
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