Fate Meaning
/feɪt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe presumed cause, force, principle, or divine will that predetermines events.
nounThe effect, consequence, outcome, or inevitable events predetermined by this cause.
Sentence Examples
A terrible fate awaited him.
It is no use quarreling with fate.
The fate of the three men is unknown.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Many ancient cultures believed that a person's ____ was determined by the stars.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Some people believe in ____, while others think that we are completely in control of our own lives.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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:
"Before they met, Rebecca Guberman and Jennifer Jako were both certain they were fated to be alone."
— 1999, Beverly Clark, Girlfriends, page 108:
"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:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Many ancient cultures believed that a person's ____ was determined by the stars.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Some people believe in ____, while others think that we are completely in control of our own lives.