predestinate

[ verb pri-des-tuh-neyt; adjective pri-des-tuh-nit, -neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, pre·des·ti·nat·ed, pre·des·ti·nat·ing.

1. Theology. to foreordain by divine decree or purpose.
2. Obsolete. to foreordain; predetermine.

adjective

1. predestined; foreordained.

predestinate

verb

1. tr another word for predestine

adjective

1. predestined or foreordained
2. theol subject to predestination; decided by God from all eternity

Other Words From

• pre·desti·nate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of predestinate¹

1350–1400; Middle English predestinaten (v.) < Latin praedestinātus, past participle of praedestināre to appoint beforehand. See pre-, destine, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The criminal always work at one crime—that is the true criminal who seems predestinate to crime, and who will of none other.

From Literature

About a century and half later, even the wise Defoe wrote in his London plague novel that Turks and Mahometans “professed predestinating Notions, and of every Man’s End being predetermined.”

From New York Times

She thanked and complimented him warmly, but without being very much astonished at his success, for she began to think he was predestinated.

From Project Gutenberg

It is unreasonable to suppose that because God has predestinated all events, we need not take any step in the matter of our salvation.

From Project Gutenberg

We are “predestinated to be conformed to the image of God’s Son.”

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• foreordain