Doom
/duːm/noun
A judgment or decree, often with a connotation of fate or destruction.
Did you know?In Old English, 'dom' not only meant judgment but also referred to the law, suggesting that our very fates can be bound by the words we speak.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*dōmaz
“A judgment, a decree, or a law.”
Old English
Old English
dōm
“Judgment; law; a decree by a ruler.”
Middle English
Middle English
dom
“Judgment; a sentence, especially one of condemnation.”
Late Middle English
Middle English
doome
“A final judgment; often associated with fateful or catastrophic outcomes.”
Modern English
English
doom
“The ultimate fate, often associated with death or destruction, reflecting a sense of unavoidable fate.”