fatalis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [faːˈtaː.lɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [faˈtaː.lis]^[1]

Forms

fātālis (neuter fātāle, adverb fātāliter); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from fātum “fate” with the suffix -ālis.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant of destiny, fateful, determining someone's fate; ordained by fate, destined; determined by external causes; and acting as an instrument of fate, all in Cicero.^[2] Livy calls the Sibylline books librī fātālēs.^[5] Wiktionary also gives deadly, fatal.^[1]

British Medieval Latin used it for concerned with fate, ordained by fate, and of an appointed time.^[6] Through Old French fatal it gave English fatal in the late 14th century, “decreed by fate”.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy has librī fātālēs.^[5][4]
• late 14th century – English fatal is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of fate, fateful.^[2]
2. Destined, fated.^[2]
3. Deadly, fatal.^[1]

Word family

• cōnfātālis
• fatalitas
• fātāliter

Related words

• fātum
• English fatal

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press