infortunate meaning (obsolete): definition

infortunate

adj

Etymology The adjective is first attested circa 1390, in Middle English, the verb in 1570; inherited from Middle English infortunat(e), borrowed from Latin infortūnātus, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). Doublet of unfortunate.

1

Obsolete Unfortunate, unlucky.

Henry, though he be infortunate1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ix]:
That infortunate imperfit Embrion of my idle houres the Ile of Dogs before mentioned, breeding vnto me ſuch bitter throwes in the teaming as it did, and the tempeſtes that aroſe at his birth, ſo aſtoniſhing outragious and violent as if my braine had bene conceiued of another Hercules, I was ſo terrifyed with my owne encreaſe (like a woman long trauailing to bee deliuered of a monſter) that it was no ſooner borne but I was glad to run from it.1599, [Thomas] Nashe, Nashes Lenten Stuffe, […], London: […] [Thomas Judson and Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and C[uthbert] B[urby] […], →OCLC, page 2:

1 more example

a most infortunate chance1655, James Howell, “To Simon Digby, Esq.”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. […], 3rd edition, volume (please specify the page), London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], →OCLC:

2

Astrology, Human sciences, Mysticism, Philosophy, Sciences Obsolete (of a star, planet, etc.) Bringing bad luck, causing misfortune, malevolent.

3

Broadly, Obsolete Ominous, inauspicious.

infortunate

noun

Etymology The adjective is first attested circa 1390, in Middle English, the verb in 1570; inherited from Middle English infortunat(e), borrowed from Latin infortūnātus, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). Doublet of unfortunate.

1

Obsolete An unfortunate.

2

Astrology, Human sciences, Mysticism, Philosophy, Sciences Obsolete An 'unfortunate' planet, star, etc.

infortunate

verb

Etymology The adjective is first attested circa 1390, in Middle English, the verb in 1570; inherited from Middle English infortunat(e), borrowed from Latin infortūnātus, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). Doublet of unfortunate.

1

Astrology, Human sciences, Mysticism, Philosophy, Sciences Ambitransitive, Obsolete To subject a person to a, or cause a celestial body to be of malevolent influence; to render 'infortunate'.

Related terms: infortunately