infortune
Very Low / ArchaicLiterary, Archaic, Poetic
Definition
Meaning
Misfortune, bad luck, or an unfortunate event or state.
An archaic or literary term for adversity, calamity, or a state of being unlucky. It can also refer to the condition of being ill-fated.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This word is largely obsolete in modern English. It is a direct antonym of 'fortune' in its sense of 'good luck'. It is primarily encountered in historical texts, poetry, or used deliberately for stylistic, archaic effect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference, as the word is equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries a formal, old-fashioned, or dramatic connotation. May be used in historical fiction or poetic contexts.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both British and American contemporary usage. Its frequency is near-zero in modern corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suffer + infortuneinfortune + befall + someonethe + infortune + of + nounVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this archaic term.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, only in historical or literary analysis.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The infortunate knight met his end in the duel. (Archaic)
American English
- The infortunate traveller lost his way in the storm. (Archaic)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He felt great infortune after losing the game. (Literary)
- The ancient tale spoke of a king brought low by cruel infortune.
- The historian analysed the period as one of collective infortune, marked by plague and poor harvests.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: IN (not) + FORTUNE (luck) = the state of NOT having good luck, i.e., misfortune.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORTUNE/INFORTUNE AS A FORCE OR TIDAL WAVE (e.g., 'a tide of infortune swept over him').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'информация' (information).
- It is not a direct equivalent of 'несчастье' in modern usage; 'misfortune' or 'bad luck' are the standard translations.
- The prefix 'in-' here means 'not', not 'into'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in modern speech/writing where 'misfortune' is intended.
- Misspelling as 'informune' or 'infortunate' (the adjective is 'unfortunate').
- Pronouncing it as /ˈɪnfɔːtʃuːn/ (stress on first syllable). Correct stress is on the second syllable.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'infortune' be MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic word and is very rarely used in modern English. 'Misfortune' or 'bad luck' are the standard terms.
It is primarily a noun, meaning misfortune. The related adjective 'infortunate' is also archaic, with 'unfortunate' being the modern form.
It is not recommended. Using archaic vocabulary can seem unnatural or like a memorised 'rare word'. It is safer and more effective to use the modern synonym 'misfortune'.
They are synonyms, but 'infortune' is archaic and literary, while 'misfortune' is the standard, modern word. Their meaning is essentially identical.