"Predestination" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples

"Predestination" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers

Predestination

"Predestination" Meaning

The concept of predestination refers to the idea that all events, including those of an individual's life, are predetermined and are unchangeable. It suggests that the course of a person's life, including their successes and failures, is known and decided ahead of time by a higher power or fate.

In philosophy, predestination is often associated with the ideas of Calvinism and the concept of divine foreordination, which holds that God has predetermined the fate of every individual, including their salvation or damnation. According to this view, human choices and actions are not truly free, but rather are part of a predetermined plan.

In a broader sense, predestination can also refer to the idea that some events or outcomes are inevitable or destined to occur, regardless of individual actions or decisions. For example, one might say that a particular economic downturn or a global pandemic was predestined by larger economic or cultural forces.

Predestination raises a number of questions and concerns, including:

If events are predetermined, do individuals have free will?
Is it possible to change one's fate?
Does predestination imply a lack of personal responsibility?
What is the nature of the power or force that determines events?

Overall, the concept of predestination is complex and has been debated by philosophers, theologians, and scholars across various disciplines.

"Predestination" Examples

5 Usage Examples for "Predestination"

1. Philosophical Context

In religious debates, the concept of predestination raises questions about free will versus divine intervention. The philosopher Saint Augustine argued that God's sovereignty implies predestination, suggesting that all events are predetermined by a higher power.

2. Scientific Speculation

In the realm of cosmology, some theories suggest that the universe's evolution might be predestined, perhaps by the laws of physics themselves, leading to a predetermined course of events since the Big Bang.

3. Literary Device

In fiction, predestination can be used as a plot device. For instance, in the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick, predestination is a theme where androids' fate is determined from the start, and their actions lead them toward their predetermined ends.

4. Social Commentary

Addressing issues of crime and justice, philosophers argue whether social and environmental factors, rather than personal choices, suggest a predestination for certain individuals to engage in illegal activities. This perspective highlights the interplay between predestination's social connotations and the debate on human agency.

5. Religious Doctrine

In Christianity, the concept of predestination is a central topic. The doctrine of predestination as stated by John Calvin and John Wesley suggests that salvation is predestined by God for a select group, leading to discussions about grace and human free will.

These examples demonstrate how the idea of predestination is applied in various contexts—philosophical, scientific, literary, social, and religious—, each highlighting different facets of this complex concept.

"Predestination" Similar Words

Predeceases

Past tense of "precede", meaning to die or cease to live before someone else, typically a spouse, family member, or colleague. For example: "He predeceased his wife by several years."

Predecessor

A predecessor is someone or something that comes before another person or thing in a position, title, office, or sequence. They are the one who precedes or comes first in time or rank, often implying a link or connection between the two. Example: "The current CEO is a predecessor of the company's founder."

Predecessors

Predefine

To be defined beforehand, or established in advance. To determine or decide something before it happens.

Predefined

Predentin

The predentin is the soft, loose layer of connective tissue lying beneath the dentin in the root and body of a tooth. It is produced by cells called odontoblasts and serves as a initial layer for the formation of dentin before the dentin starts to mineralize and harden.

Predestinate

Determining beforehand what will happen or be done; destined or appointed for something in advance.

Predestinating

The word "predestinating" refers to the act of determining or deciding in advance what will happen to someone or something, often in a way that seems to be predetermined by a higher power or fate. In other words, predestinating means believing or decreeing that the course of events is fixed and unchangeable, and that the outcome is already certain and inevitable. It implies a sense of determinism, where the outcome is seen as being predetermined before the event occurs. For example: "The predestinating gods of fate had decided that the team would win the championship." "She believed that her predestinating astrological signs foretold a bright future for her." In literature and philosophy, the concept of predestination has been explored in contexts such as theology, philosophy, and literature. For instance, in John Calvin's theology, predestination is a key concept that refers to God's sovereign will that ordains certain individuals for salvation. However, it's worth noting that predestinating is not the most commonly used word in everyday conversations. The more commonly used phrase is "predestined" (past participle of predestine), and it carries the same meaning.

Predestinative

Relating to or constituting destiny; predetermining the course of events.

Predestine

Predestined

Having been planned or decided by a higher power to happen or exist from the beginning; predetermined by fate. Example: "She felt that her predestined path in life was to become a doctor." Synonyms: destined, fated, predetermined, ordained, inevitable. Antonyms: accidental, random, spontaneous.

Predestiny

Destiny or fate that is predetermined by a divine power or a higher force; something that is predetermined and unavoidable, often in reference to a person's life or events that will happen in the future. Example: "He believed that his path in life was predetermined, and that he was on a course that he couldn't change."

Predetermination

Predetermination refers to the idea that certain events or courses of action are predetermined or fatefully decided before they occur, often suggested by the idea of free will vs. fate. It suggests that the course of a particular event or outcome is already fixed and inevitable, and that factors such as chance, choice, and circumstance are secondary to an underlying force or power. In other words, predetermination implies that the future is already set in motion, and that individuals have little control over the events that will unfold. This concept can be viewed through various philosophical, religious, or metaphysical perspectives, including Calvinism, fatalism, and determinism, which emphasize the idea that the course of events is predetermined and that human actions are insignificant in the face of an overarching destiny or larger plan. This concept can lead to debates about the nature of free will, moral responsibility, and the human experience. If events are predetermined, do individuals bear responsibility for their actions, or is it merely a consequence of the predetermined course of events?

Predetermine

Predetermine means to decide or plan something in advance, usually before an event or situation occurs, so that a specific outcome or decision is already made or will be made beforehand. Example: "The referee had predetermined the winning team before the match even started." Synonyms: decide, determine, forecast, anticipate, preordain, predesign Antonyms: spontaneous, unpredictable, unscheduled

Predetermined

Predetermined refers to something that has been predetermined or fixed in advance, often in an official or authoritative way. It implies that a decision or outcome has been made before, and cannot be changed or influenced by external factors. Example: "The predetermined course of events was set in motion when the judge made his ruling."

Predeterminer

A word often used in language learning! A pre-determiner is a function word that comes before a determiner in a sentence and indicates the type of relationship between the noun it precedes and the rest of the sentence. Pre-determiners typically indicate the quantity, specificity, or location of the noun they precede. Examples of pre-determiners include: All Both Half Some Each Neither Either Much A little For instance: "All the students" - Here, "all" is a pre-determiner indicating that we are talking about the entire group of students. "Both the manager and the CEO" - Here, "both" is a pre-determiner indicating that we are talking about two equal entities. Pre-determiners can help to add nuance and context to a sentence, and are a common feature of many languages, including English.