fate

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin fatum, literally, what has been spoken, from neuter of fatus, past participle of fari to speak — more at ban Date: 14th century 1. the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do ; destiny 2. a. an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition, or end b. disaster; especially death 3. a. final outcome b. the expected result of normal development <

prospective fate of embryonic cells

> c. the circumstances that befall someone or something <

did not know the fate of her former classmates

> 4. plural, capitalized the three goddesses who determine the course of human life in classical mythology Synonyms: fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom mean a predetermined state or end. fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome <

the fate of the submarine is unknown

>. destiny implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end <

the country's destiny to be a model of liberty to the world

>. lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance <

it was her lot to die childless

>, portion implying the apportioning of good and evil <

remorse was his daily portion

>. doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate <

if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain

>. II. transitive verb (fated; fating) Date: 1601 destine; also doom