Previous determination as if by destiny or fate.

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).

synonyms: foreordination, predetermination, preordination.

Roget 601: involuntariness; instinct, blind impulse; inborn proclivity, innate proclivity; native tendency, natural tendency; natural impulse, predetermination.    necessity, necessitation; obligation; compulsion etc. 744; subjection etc. 749; stern necessity, hard necessity, dire necessity, imperious necessity, inexorable necessity, iron necessity, adverse necessity; fate; what must be.    destiny, destination; fatality, fate, kismet, doom, foredoom, election, predestination; preordination, foreordination; lot fortune; fatalism; inevitableness etc. adj.; spell etc. 993.    star, stars; planet, planets; astral influence; sky, Fates, Parcae, Sisters three, book of fate; God's will, will of Heaven; wheel of Fortune, Ides of March, Hobson's choice.    last shift, last resort; dernier ressort [Fr.]; pis aller etc. (substitute) 147 [Fr.]; necessaries etc. (requirement) 630.    necessarian^†, necessitarian^†; fatalist; automaton.    ... show more

Roget 611: predestination, preordination, premeditation, predeliberation^†, predetermination; foregone conclusion, fait accompli [Fr.]; parti pris [Fr.]; resolve, propendency^†; intention etc. 620; project etc. 626; fate, foredoom, necessity.    ... show more

Dutch: predestinatie