predestine
Americanverb (used with object)
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predestines,
present (3rd person singular)
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predestined,
past participle, past
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predestining
present participle
verb
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to foreordain; determine beforehand
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theol (of God) to decree from eternity (any event, esp the final salvation of individuals)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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predestinesimple
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predestinessimple
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have predestinedperfect
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has predestinedperfect
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am predestiningprogressive
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are predestiningprogressive
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is predestiningprogressive
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have been predestiningperfect progressive
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has been predestiningperfect progressive
Past
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predestinedsimple
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had predestinedperfect
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was predestiningprogressive
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were predestiningprogressive
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had been predestiningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of predestine
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English predestinen, from Latin praedestināre; see pre-, destine
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Genes do not predestine one individual to complete fewer years of schooling than another or one individual to score higher on a cognitive performance test than another.
From Scientific American ● May 26, 2022
"And what dost thou predestine to me?" inquired Vatinius.
From Quo Vadis: a narrative of the time of Nero by Jeremiah Curtin
Not so as to the motive that induced God to predestine certain individuals to the exclusion of others.
From Grace, Actual and Habitual A Dogmatic Treatise by Arthur Preuss
"But to whom dost Thou predestine the honor, holiness?"
From The Pharaoh and the Priest An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt by Jeremiah Curtin
“But to whom dost thou predestine the honor, holiness?”
From The Pharaoh and the Priest An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt by Alexander Glovatski
Essentially, The Light and the Dark is a thesis novel designed to prove that a man's nature predestines his end.
From Time Magazine Archive
But neither of these things can be said of God when He predestines.
From Summa Theologica, Part I (Prima Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas
Therefore, predestination is in the one who predestines, and not in the predestined.
From Summa Theologica, Part I (Prima Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, Predestination is not anything in the predestined; but only in the person who predestines.
From Summa Theologica, Part I (Prima Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas
But for Escola, it seemed almost predestined, spoken into the universe so frequently it had to become true.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2025
In the final scene of “Forrest Gump,” a white feather dances from Forrest’s feet, into the air, representing one of the movie’s major threads: Are life’s joys and agonies predestined, or are they indiscriminate?
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2025
In Yoruba culture, which predominates in the south-west of the country, twins are a blessing and their names are predestined.
From BBC ● May 9, 2024
Artificial intelligence seems predestined to become a bigger part of our lives.
From Slate ● Dec. 1, 2023
Nothing had changed except your own attitude; the predestined thing happened in any case.
From "1984" by George Orwell
During the Reformation, John Calvin asserted that hard-earned material success was a sign of God's predestining grace, thus solidifying the religious significance of work.
From Time Magazine Archive
In China, according to Dr. Dennys, the man in the moon is called Yue-lao, and he is believed to hold in his hands the power of predestining marriages.
From Storyology Essays in Folk-Lore, Sea-Lore, and Plant-Lore by Benjamin Taylor
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