Noun

(uncountable) bad luck

* 2012 , July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track

Cycling's complex etiquette contains an unwritten rule that riders in contention for a race win should not be penalised for sheer misfortune .

The worst tour I have ever had the misfortune to experience.

It was my fortune, or misfortune , to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training. - Ulysses S. Grant

(countable) an undesirable event such as an accident

* 1839 , Charles Robert Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle. , Chapter X

The snowstorm, which was the cause of their misfortune , happened in the middle of January, corresponding to our July, and in the latitude of Durham!

She had to come to terms with a number of misfortunes .

Noun

(en noun)

A painful or trying experience.

*

* {{quote-news

, year=2012 , date=December 29 , author=Paul Doyle , title=Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=Arsène Wenger confessed: "The result was not an accurate indication of the match." Certainly, at half-time it seemed unlikely that Arsenal would catch fire so spectacularly because the first half was a damp squib of a display from Wenger's team, as Newcastle initially showed no ill-effects from their Old Trafford ordeal .}}

A trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test (such as ducking in water), divine authority deciding the guilt of the accused.