Definition

1. Noun:
   • Theological concept of divine foreordination: The belief or doctrine that all events, especially those concerning individual salvation, have been determined in advance by a divine power, particularly God.
   • The act of predestining or state of being predestined: The action of determining or decreeing something in advance; fate or destiny considered as a predetermined course of events.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The debate over free will versus predestination has continued for centuries.
  • His belief in predestination gave him comfort, feeling his life's path was part of a divine plan.
  • The novel explores the theme of predestination, questioning whether the characters truly have control over their futures.

Advanced Usage

• "the doctrine of predestination": A specific theological teaching, often associated with Calvinism, that God has eternally chosen who will be saved.

  • The sermon focused on the doctrine of predestination and its implications for Christian life.

• "a sense of predestination": A feeling that events are unfolding according to a pre-established plan.

  • As everything fell perfectly into place, she felt a strange sense of predestination.

Variants and Related Words

• Predestine (verb): To determine or decree something beforehand.

  • Some believe our souls are predestined for a certain fate.

• Predestinarian (noun/adjective): (A person) relating to or believing in the doctrine of predestination.

• Predestined (adjective): Decreed or determined in advance.
  • They felt their meeting was predestined.

Synonyms

• Foreordination: The action of ordaining or decreeing something beforehand.
• Fate: The development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power.
• Destiny: A predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency.
• Preordination: Another term for the action of ordaining in advance.

Related Phrases

• "double predestination": A specific Calvinist doctrine stating that God predestines some to salvation and others to damnation.

Related Idioms

• "It was predestined": Used to suggest that an event or outcome was inevitable and meant to happen.
  • From the moment they met, it seemed their friendship was predestined.

Noun

1. (theology) being determined in advance; especially the doctrine (usually associated with Calvin) that God has foreordained every event throughout eternity (including the final salvation of mankind)
2. previous determination as if by destiny or fate