[fate] n [ME, fr. MF or L; MF, fr. L fatum, lit., what has been spoken, fr. neut. of fatus, pp. of fari to speak--more at ban] (14c) 1: the principle or determining cause or will 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; esp: death 3 a: final outcome b: the expected result of normal development "prospective ~ of embryonic cells"
4. pl, cap: the three goddesses who determine the course of human life in classical mythology syn fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom mean a predetermined state or end. fate implies an inevitable and usu. 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".
[2]fate vt fat.ed ; fat.ing (1601): destine; also: doom