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to predestinate

to predestinate

1 9.9
Decide in advance that something will happen, often by fate or God
  • verb
  • /ˌpriːˈdɛstəˌneɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : predestinar
  • And love, having predestinated us... by Jesus Christ who Himself... in praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted... in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace...

Examples

  • The ancient texts suggest that many believe their lives are predestinate, shaped by divine will.

  • 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son: that he might be the Firstborn among many brethren.

    Blog text (16)

  • 30 And whom he predestinated, them he also called.

    Blog text (16)

  • God has predestinated; mankind expects great things from our race, and great things we feel in our souls.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

    Blog text (24)

  • To be the objects of God's love, displayed in His predestinating us unto the adoption of children, is to be loved in the same way and with the same infinite dimension with which the Father loves His only begotten Son.

    Blog text (4)

  • According to some philosophical debates, humans often wonder if their choices are truly free or predestinate.

  • The doctrine of grace posits that God has predestinate certain individuals for salvation.

Synonyms

to destine
vsto predestinate
163 5.7

To decide that someone or something will have a certain future

places stronger emphasis on actual divine ordaining rather than seeming fate
to predetermine
vsto predestinate
23 5.8

Decide or make a result likely before it happens

adds divine or fate-based authority to that prior decision
to preordain
vsto predestinate
8 8.8

To decide or arrange something before it happens, often by fate

is used for ordained divine decisions rather than ordinary planning
to predestine
vsto predestinate
6 9.2

To decide in advance, often by fate or God's will

is the chosen headword form for that identical divine meaning
to fate
vsto predestinate
4 7.4

To be chosen by destiny to have a certain result

highlights ordained determination specifically by divine will rather than general destiny
to predefine
vsto predestinate
3 5.1

Decide and set something before it is needed

adds a divine or destined cause rather than practical preplanning
to foreordain
vsto predestinate
  • Formal
1 9.9

Decide before it happens, often by a higher power

focuses on the same divine predecision rather than neutral choice
to prespecify
vsto predestinate
1 7.8

Decide or say something before an event starts

shifts that neutral advance setting into a divinely ordained decision

How Determined

to predestinate
  • Formal
1 9.9
to ordain
  • Formal
18 6.9
to determine
282 3.1
to decide
∞ 1.0
to plan
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

predestinate infinitive
predestinated past
predestinated past participle
predestinating present participle
predestinates third person singular

Morphology

predestinate = destinate (semi-transparent) = pre + destin + ate

The prefix 'pre-' clearly adds the idea of advance determination, but the word is literary and strongly associated with theological or fate-based use.

Etymology

Predestinate as a verb comes from pre- 'before' and destine, the same root as destiny, meaning 'fate' or 'to set', so it gives the image of a life 'set before' it begins. That's why to predestinate someone is to decide their fate in advance, often by God or by fate.