predestine

[ pri-des-tin ]

verb (used with object)

, pre·des·tined, pre·des·tin·ing.

1. to destine in advance; foreordain; predetermine:

   He seemed predestined for the ministry.

predestine

/ priːˈdɛstɪn /

verb

1. to foreordain; determine beforehand
2. theol (of God) to decree from eternity (any event, esp the final salvation of individuals)

Derived Forms

• preˈdestinable, adjective

Other Words From

• pre·des·ti·na·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of predestine¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English predestinen, from Latin praedestināre; pre-, destine

Word History and Origins

Origin of predestine¹

C14: from Latin praedestināre to resolve beforehand, from destināre to determine, destine

Example Sentences

Genes do not predestine one individual to complete fewer years of schooling than another or one individual to score higher on a cognitive performance test than another.

From Scientific American

This has diminished, though, as people have come to see that gender does not predestine character and personality.

From New York Times

Similarly, his playing of games such as Risk and Civilization seemed to predestine him to amass great power.

From Washington Post

Matching wouldn’t predestine the outcome — preventing a nuclear North Korea or maintaining credibility could still be important enough to justify military action, but a decision-maker would have to directly confront the cost of what Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said would be the “worst kind of fighting in most people’s lifetimes.”

From Washington Post

Here is what science is highly unlikely to be able to do: genetically predestine a child’s Ivy League acceptance letter, front-load a kid with Stephen Colbert’s one-liners, or bake Beyonce’s vocal range into a baby.

From New York Times

Related Words

• foreordain