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)- 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.
- The effect, consequence, outcome, or inevitable events predetermined by this cause.
- Destiny; often with a connotation of death, ruin, misfortune, etc.Accept your fate.
- (mythology) (one of the goddesses said to control the destiny of human beings).
Derived terms
Verb
- (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.