fate

fate
\ \ [14] Etymologically, fate is ‘that which is spoken’ – that is, by the gods. Like so many other English words, from fable to profess, it goes back ultimately to the Indo-European base *bha- ‘speak’. Its immediate source was Italian fato, a descendant of Latin fātum, which was formed from the past participle of the verb fārīspeak’. That which the gods say determines the destiny of human beings, and so Latin fātum came to signify ‘what is preordained, destiny’. It was used in the plural fāta to personify the Fates, the three goddesses who preside over human destiny – their direct etymological descendants in English have been diminished to fairies. The derivative fatal [14] comes from Latin fatālis, perhaps via Old French fatal.
\ \ Cf.CONFESS, FABLE, FAIRY, PROFESS

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • fate — [feıt] n [Date: 1300 1400; : French; Origin: Latin fatum what has been spoken (by the gods) , from fari to speak ] 1.) [C usually singular] the things that will happen to someone, especially unpleasant events ▪ I wouldn t wish such a fate on my… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Fate — • Lat. fatum, from fari, to tell or predict Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Fate     Fate     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Fate — is defined by Destiny, controlled by free will, explained by Karma. Fate may refer to:* Destiny, an inevitable course of events * Fatalism, a philosophical doctrineComputing* Fate (1996 game), an unpublished computer game * Fate (video game), a… …   Wikipedia

  • Fate — (f[=a]t), n. [L. fatum a prophetic declaration, oracle, what is ordained by the gods, destiny, fate, fr. fari to speak: cf. OF. fat. See {Fame}, {Fable}, {Ban}, and cf. 1st {Fay}, {Fairy}.] 1. A fixed decree by which the order of things is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • FATE — oder FATE kann sich auf die folgenden Dinge beziehen: Fate (Band), eine dänische Hardrock Band Fate (Texas), eine Stadt in Texas Fate (Computerspiel), ein Computerspiel aus dem Jahr 2005 Fate: Gates of Dawn, ein Computer Rollenspiel aus dem Jahr… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • FATE — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda FATE es una supercomputadora creado por Belthasar en un futuro distante. FATE tiene conocimiento de sí misma y puede operar sola. Luego de que Chronopolis fue lanzado atrás en el tiempo, FATE aseguró el control del… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Fate — bezeichnet: Fate (Band), eine dänische Hardrock Band Fate (Texas), eine Stadt in Texas Fate (Computerspiel), ein Computerspiel aus dem Jahr 2005 Fate: Gates of Dawn, ein Computer Rollenspiel aus dem Jahr 1991 Fate/stay night, ein japanisches… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • fate — [ feıt ] noun ** 1. ) count the things that happen to someone, especially unpleasant things: fate of: a meeting which would decide the fate of thousands of employees suffer a fate: The refugees have suffered an appalling fate. 2. ) uncount a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • fate — fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom are comparable when they denote the state, condition, or end which is decreed for one by a higher power. Fate presupposes such a determining agent or agency as one of the ancient goddesses called Fates, the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • fate — fate; fate·ful; fate·ful·ly; fate·ful·ness; sul·fate; …   English syllables

  • fate — [fāt] n. [ME < L fatum, prophetic declaration, oracle < neut. pp. of fari, to speak: see FAME] 1. the power or agency supposed to determine the outcome of events before they occur; destiny 2. a) something inevitable, supposedly determined… …   English World dictionary

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