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, predestination, 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

Roget 620: intent, intention, intentionality; purpose; quo animo [Lat.]; project etc. 626; undertaking etc. 676; predetermination etc. 611; design, ambition.    contemplation, mind, animus, view, purview, proposal; study; look out.    final cause; raison d'etre [Fr.]; cui bono [Lat.]; object, aim, end; the be all and the end all;" drift etc. (meaning) 516; tendency etc. 176; destination, mark, point, butt, goal, target, bull's-eye, quintain [Mediev.]; prey, quarry, game.    decision, determination, resolve; fixed set purpose, settled purpose; ultimatum; resolution etc. 604; wish etc. 865; arriere pensee [Fr.]; motive etc. 615.    [Study of final causes] teleology.    ... show more

Roget 600: will, volition, conation^†, velleity; liberum arbitrium [Lat.]; will and pleasure, free will; freedom etc. 748; discretion; option etc. (choice) 609; voluntariness^†; spontaneity, spontaneousness; originality.    pleasure, wish, mind; desire; frame of mind etc. (inclination) 602; intention etc. 620; predetermination etc. 611; selfcontrol &c.; determination etc. (resolution) 604; force of will.    ... show more

Dutch: predestinatie

A mental determination or resolve in advance; an antecedent intention to do something.

The act of determining or ordaining in advance what is to take place.