fortune-huntern.
/ˈfɔːtʃuːn ˌhʌntə/, /ˈfɔːtʃ(ə)n ˌhʌntə/, /ˈfɔːtjuːn ˌhʌntə/, U.S. /ˈfɔrtʃən ˌhən(t)ər/ One who seeks to win a fortune; esp. one who tries to capture an heiress.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > self-interest > [noun] > self-interested person > specific
enterpriserc1600
adventurer1648
fortune-hunter1689
careerist1917
survivalist1922
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > seeking marriage > [noun] > seeking a wife > seeking heiress as > one who
fortune-stealer1712
fortune-hunter1838
1689 J. Carlisle (title) The Fortune Hunters, or two Fools well met, a Comedy.
1755 Gentleman's Mag. Mar. 111/1 Several Irish brigades..may be formed out of those able bodied men which are called Fortune-hunters.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice I. i. x. 77 If she were of our sex, [she] would make a capital fortune-hunter.
Derivatives
ˈfortune-ˌhunting n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > seeking marriage > [noun] > seeking a wife > seeking heiress as
fortune-stealing1680
fortune-hunting1766
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > self-interest > [noun] > action > specific
fortune-hunting1766
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. v. 47 There is no character among men more contemptible than that of a fortune-hunter, and I can see no reason why fortune-hunting women should not be contemptible too.
1793 E. Parsons Woman as she should Be II. 122 Poor Harry..is gone a fortune hunting to India.
1870 J. R. Lowell Among my Bks. (1873) 1st Ser. 125 [A] fortune-hunting count.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
> as lemmas
fortune-hunter
b. figurative and gen. One who hunts or searches eagerly for something; a seeker. (Most frequently in combination, as fortune-hunter, place-hunter.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > [noun] > searcher or seeker
seekerc1330
hunterc1374
searchera1382
explorator1583
questa1616
questanta1616
ferret1629
quester1629
perquisitor1656
questor1887
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Add. MS.) i. pr. iii. 12 We scorne swiche rauiners and honters [Camb. MS. henters] of foulest[e] þinges.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. AAiiii The hunter of mannes soule.
1542 H. Brinkelow Lamentacion sig. Aviii Whorehunters and robbers of glorie.
1796 E. Burke Let. to Noble Lord in Wks. (1815) VIII. 52 They are the duke of Bedford's natural hunters; and he is their natural game.
1811 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) I. v. 157 Are you a good motto hunter?
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n.1689as lemmas