fatal

Where does the word "fatal" come from? It comes from Latin fatalis, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Fatal’s story begins in Latin: fatalis meant “ordained by fate.” From 'fatum', fate. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as fatal. From Latin 'fatum', what has been spoken by the gods. It reached English by 1300s as fatal. The sense 'causing death' dates from the 1500s. Today, fatal means causing death.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fatalis "ordained by fate", from 'fatum', fate.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval fatal "fated", from Latin 'fatum', what has been spoken by the gods.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s fatal "fated", the sense 'causing death' dates from the 1500s.