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Fates

British  
/ feɪts /

plural noun

  1. Greek myth the three goddesses who control the destinies of the lives of man, which are likened to skeins of thread that they spin, measure out, and at last cut See Atropos Clotho Lachesis

  2. Norse myth the Norns See Norn 1

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

The actress also points to the mythological figures known as The Fates or Moirai, who appear throughout the series and become increasingly central to Zoe's emotional unravelling.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

Klotho is a protein named after one of the three Fates from Greek mythology, who spun the thread of life.

From Slate ● Mar. 30, 2026

Like the Furies and the Fates of Greek mythology, the subjects of Samantha Leach’s “The Elissas” are troubled and troubling young women enacting a drama that feels both ancient and inevitable.

From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2023

As guests entered and exited they were invited to browse a table laden with reports titled “Blood Gold” and “Linked Fates: How California’s Oil Imports Affect the Future of the Amazon Rainforest.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2023

“Fair enough. Not the answer I wanted. But honest. We’ll trust the Fates, then.”

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

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