Fate

Fate
Fate 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 prescribed; the immutable law of the universe; inevitable necessity; the force by which all existence is determined and conditioned. [1913 Webster]

Necessity and chance Approach not me; and what I will is fate. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Beyond and above the Olympian gods lay the silent, brooding, everlasting fate of which victim and tyrant were alike the instruments. --Froude. [1913 Webster]

2. Appointed lot; allotted life; arranged or predetermined event; destiny; especially, the final lot; doom; ruin; death. [1913 Webster]

The great, th'important day, big with the fate Of Cato and of Rome. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

Our wills and fates do so contrary run That our devices still are overthrown. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The whizzing arrow sings, And bears thy fate, Antinous, on its wings. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

3. The element of chance in the affairs of life; the unforeseen and unestimated conitions considered as a force shaping events; fortune; esp., opposing circumstances against which it is useless to struggle; as, fate was, or the fates were, against him. [1913 Webster]

A brave man struggling in the storms of fate. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Sometimes an hour of Fate's serenest weather strikes through our changeful sky its coming beams. --B. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

4. pl. [L. Fata, pl. of fatum.] (Myth.) The three goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, sometimes called the {Destinies}, or {Parc[ae]}who were supposed to determine the course of human life. They are represented, one as holding the distaff, a second as spinning, and the third as cutting off the thread. [1913 Webster]

Note: Among all nations it has been common to speak of fate or destiny as a power superior to gods and men -- swaying all things irresistibly. This may be called the fate of poets and mythologists. Philosophical fate is the sum of the laws of the universe, the product of eternal intelligence and the blind properties of matter. Theological fate represents Deity as above the laws of nature, and ordaining all things according to his will -- the expression of that will being the law. --Krauth-Fleming.

Syn: Destiny; lot; doom; fortune; chance. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — 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

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”