predestination

American  

[pri-des-tuh-ney-shuhn, pree-des-] / prɪˌdɛs təˈneɪ ʃən, ˌpri dɛs- /

noun

1. an act of predestinating or predestining.

2. the state of being predestinated or predestined.

3. fate; destiny.

4. Theology.

   1. the action of God in foreordaining from eternity whatever comes to pass.

   2. the decree of God by which certain souls are foreordained to salvation.

---

predestination British  

/ priːˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. theol

   1. the act of God foreordaining every event from eternity

   2. the doctrine or belief, esp associated with Calvin, that the final salvation of some of mankind is foreordained from eternity by God

2. the act of predestining or the state of being predestined

---

predestination Cultural  

1. In theology, the doctrine that all events have been willed by God. John Calvin interpreted predestination to mean that God willed eternal damnation for some people and salvation (see also salvation) for others.

---

Etymology

Origin of predestination

1300–50; Middle English predestinacioun < Late Latin praedestinātiōn- (stem of praedestinātiō ). See predestinate, -ion

Example Sentences

Such theological reasoning is serious, stalwart and chilly, not unrelated to the cold logic of double predestination and the denial of free will.

From The Wall Street Journal

There was no longer the belief in predestination, the idea that God has already chosen who will and won't be saved and there's nothing you can do about it.

From Salon

Linda does not believe in the predestination of zodiac signs, but there is nothing stopping her from choosing to represent her own, at her own free will.

From Salon

That autonomy keeps “Maria” from being a thematic gut punch about predestination like Larraín’s other outings, but Jolie’s stunning central performance makes up for what the film’s story lacks.

From Salon

Gail fed her children’s developing minds with notions of predestination, aliens and the occult.

From Los Angeles Times