destine

[des-tin]

verb (used with object)

destined, destining 

1. to set apart for a particular use, purpose, etc.; design; intend.

2. to appoint or ordain beforehand, as by divine decree; foreordain; predetermine.

destine

/ ˈdɛstɪn /

verb

1. (tr) to set apart or appoint (for a certain purpose or person, or to do something); intend; design

Word History and Origins

Origin of destine¹

1250–1300; Middle English destinen < Old French destiner < Latin dēstināre to establish, determine, equivalent to dē- de- + *stanāre, derivative of stāre to stand

Word History and Origins

Origin of destine¹

C14: from Old French destiner, from Latin dēstināre to appoint, from _de- + -stināre, from stāre to stand

Example Sentences

But he'd always known he was destined to share his father's fate, until today.

From BBC

That whole project, by the way, is destined to fail.

From Salon

Police say the drugs were destined for mainland Europe or Great Britain.

From BBC

She cited festivals in mission towns, such as Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta, where people dress up like the Californios of yore to remember a romanticized era that was destined to end badly.

From Los Angeles Times

Buckley’s searching, searing turn seems destined to be lauded countless times these next few months, a performance that is as impossible to ignore as the character she plays.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• doom 
• intend