• Fate

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /feɪt/
    • Rhymes: -eɪt

    Origin

    From Latin fata ("prediction") (neutral plural of fatum), fatus 'spoken', fari ("to speak").

    Full definition of fate

    Noun

    fate

    (countable and uncountable; plural fates)
    1. The presumed cause, force, principle, or divine will that predetermines events.
      • 1910, Emerson Hough, The Purchase Price Chapter 1, Captain Edward Carlisle...felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze,...; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.
    2. The effect, consequence, outcome, or inevitable events predetermined by this cause.
    3. Destiny; often with a connotation of death, ruin, misfortune, etc.
      Accept your fate.
    4. (mythology) (one of the goddesses said to control the destiny of human beings).

    Related terms

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To foreordain or predetermine, to make inevitable.The oracle's prediction fated Oedipus to kill his father; not all his striving could change what would occur.
      • 2011, James Al-Shamma, Sarah Ruhl: A Critical Study of the Plays (page 119)At the conclusion of this part, Eric, who plays Jesus and is now a soldier, captures Violet in the forest, fating her to a concentration camp.

    Usage notes

    In some uses this may imply it causes the inevitable event.

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