Where does “fatalism” come from?
Fatalism derives from English fatal plus the suffix -ism, ultimately from Latin fatalis (relating to fate), from fatus (spoken), from for (to speak), tracing to Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂- (to speak or say).
fatalism (English): The doctrine that all events are subject to fate...
Definitions
- The doctrine that all events are subject to fate...
Ancestry of “fatalism”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | fatal | Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or... |
| 2 | Middle French | fatal | fatal |
| 3 | Latin | fatalis | of fate, destined, predestined; fatal, deadly |
| 4 | Latin | fātum | — |
| 5 | Latin | fātus | — |
| 6 | Latin | for | "defective"; I speak, talk, say |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | fāōr | speak |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéh₂ti | to speak, to be talking |