Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “destiny” come from?

Destiny comes from Middle English destine, meaning to determine or appoint beforehand.

destiny (English): That to which any person or thing is destined; a...

Definitions

  1. That to which any person or thing is destined; a...

Ancestry of “destiny”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdestine—
2Old Frenchdestineefate; destiny
3LatindestinoI bind, fasten, secure, fix; I establish,...
4Latindē-—
5Latindē—
6Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
7Latinposteablative singular of postis
8Proto-Italicposti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “destiny”

  • Destiny
  • predestiny
  • destinyless
  • destinist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →