I. ˈfāt 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
( fat·ed ; fat·ing )
Date: 1601
: destine ; also : doom