Fateful
/ˈfeɪt.fəl/noun
Determined by fate; having significant consequences.
Did you know?In many cultures, the concept of fate is tied to divine intervention, suggesting that our lives are guided by powerful, unseen hands.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰāg-
“to share, to divide, to apportion, suggesting a predetermined lot in life.”
Latin
Latin
fatum
“prophetic declaration, destiny, indicating a divine or magical determination of events.”
Old French
Old French
fat
“fate, destiny; referring to a predetermined outcome.”
Middle English
Middle English
fateful
“having to do with fate, often in a sense of tragic consequence.”
Modern English
English
fateful
“characterized by significant or decisive consequences; often used in a dramatic or ominous context.”
Explore more surprising origins