foreordain

English

Etymology

From Middle English for-orden; equivalent to fore- +‎ ordain; probably modeled on Latin praeordināre.

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ˌfɔːɹɔːˈdeɪn/

Verb

foreordain (third-person singular simple present foreordains, present participle foreordaining, simple past and past participle foreordained)

(transitive) To predestine or preordain.
- 1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 46:
  What had Wyrd fore-ordained? Naegling blunted and this time broke into kindling.
- 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 308:
  God has made the decision before all time, so some are foreordained to be saved through grace – a predestined group of the elect.

Derived terms

foreordainer

Translations

predestine — see predestine