Etymology Map
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Fatal

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means causing death

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

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

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.