Etymologically
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fatum

Etymology and origin of the Latin word fatum

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (for)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfaː.tũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfaː.tum][1]

Forms

fātum n (genitive fātī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of ⟨fātus⟩, the participle of for “to speak”, in a passive sense, “what has been spoken”.[2][1][3] Isidore says ⟨fātum⟩ is whatever the gods speak, whatever Jupiter speaks.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[5] The OLD's earliest citation for a person's lot is from Lucilius.[2]

Semantic evolution

In Cicero it meant a prophecy, a decree of fate, fātum est “it is fated”, and fate as the force that shapes events, fātō “by fate”.[2] In Lucilius it meant a person's destiny, in Ovid one's span of life, fātō fūnctus “dead”, and in Cicero death, doom, and an outcome.[2] Döderlein contrasts cāsus, chance as a natural force, with fors and fortūna and with the fixed fātum.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant prediction, fate.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for fate, destiny, and Fate, also in astrology and prophecy.[8] It survives in Italian fato, Portuguese fado and Spanish hado, and its plural fāta gave English fate in the late 14th century; its adjective fātālis gave English fatal.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[5]
  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of a person's lot.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of prophecy and fate.[2][5]
  • late 14th century – English fate is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A prophecy.[2]
  2. A decree of fate, fātum est, it is fated.[2]
  3. Fate, destiny, lot.[2]
  4. One's span of life, fātō fūnctus, dead.[2]
  5. Death, doom.[2]
  6. An outcome.[2]

Word family

  • fātālis
  • fāticanus,
  • fātidicus
  • fātifer
  • fātilegus
  • fātiloquus

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from cāsus, fors and fortūna.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Fatum.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/fatum. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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