a. Obs. [a. OF. fortunable (‘unfortunate,’ Godef.): see FORTUNE and -ABLE.]
1. Favored by fortune, fortunate.
c. 1470. Hardyng, Chron., ccxxv. ii.
| Of Suffolke also, that were full honorable | |
| The lord Wiloughby, full fortunable. |
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Her., A iij. He the wich berith in his Cote armur that stone, fortunable of victori in his kinges battayl shall be.
1556. Aurelio & Isab. (1608), B. It behoveth that suche persons be well fortunable.
2. Bringing good fortune, lucky.
c. 1465. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 3.
| There was neuer birde brede vnder þe stone | |
| More fortunable in a felde þan þat birde hath be. |
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. xi. 75.
| We the beseik, this day be fortunable | |
| To ws Tirianis, happy and agreable. |
3. Pertaining to fortune or chance, fortuitous.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 46.
| Thus is that man voyde, of all intellygence | |
| Whom fortune fedyth, with chaunche fortunable | |
| If he therin haue ouer large confydence | |
| And thynke that sure that euer is mutable. |
1606. Bryskett, Civ. Life, 253. Such things as are subiect to change; and may be and not be; may be done or not done; and (when al is said) are fortunable.
Hence † Fortunably adv., by fortune.
1555. Abp. Parker, Ps. (1556), C iv. If by chaunce thou fallest amonges thyne enemies, & yet hast fortunably escaped them.
