Etymology From Middle English fate, from Latin fāta (“prediction”), plural of fātum, from fātus (“spoken”), from for (“to speak”). In this sense, displaced native Old English wyrd, whence Modern English weird.
The presumed cause, force, principle, or divine will that predetermines events.
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.1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
2
The effect, consequence, outcome, or inevitable events predetermined by this cause.
3
An event or a situation which is inevitable in the fullness of time.
4
Destiny; often with a connotation of death, ruin, misfortune, etc.
Accept your fate.
5
Human sciences, Mysticism, Mythology, Philosophy, Sciences Alternative letter-case form of Fate (one of the goddesses said to control the destiny of human beings).
It’s important to research chemical fate because chemical fate is the best tool we have for understanding and managing human health risks or environmental damage caused by chemical release.2019 July 12, Danielle Freeman, “Archived copy”, in Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, archived from the original on 11 Oct 2022:
7
Embryology, Medicine, Sciences The mature endpoint of a region, group of cells or individual cell in an embryo, including all changes leading to that mature endpoint
Etymology From Middle English fate, from Latin fāta (“prediction”), plural of fātum, from fātus (“spoken”), from for (“to speak”). In this sense, displaced native Old English wyrd, whence Modern English weird.
1
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.
Before they met, Rebecca Guberman and Jennifer Jako were both certain they were fated to be alone.1999, Beverly Clark, Girlfriends, page 108:
1 more example
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.2011, James Al-Shamma, Sarah Ruhl: A Critical Study of the Plays, page 119: