▪ I. destine, v.
(ˈdɛstɪn)
Forms: 4–5 destayn(e, 4–6 -ten, 5 -tan(e, -teyne, 5–6 -tyne, 6 -tyng, 6– destine.
[a. F. destiner (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. dēstināre to make fast or firm, establish, destine, f. de- I. 3 + *stanāre, causal deriv. of stāre to stand.]
† 1. trans. To ordain, appoint (formally or definitely). Obs. (or merged in 3.)
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 2673 It was desteynid by dome, & for due holdyn..Thay affermyt hit fully. 1613 J. Salkeld Treat. Angels 80 [Angels] destined for the perpetuall motion of the heavens. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. I. x. 105 His appanage, which the late king had destined him. 1881 A. J. Duffield Don Quix. I. xxv. 344 This is the place, O ye heavens! which I destine and select for bewailing the misfortune. |
2. As the act of the Deity, Fate, or a supernatural power: To appoint or fix beforehand, to predetermine by an unalterable decree or ordinance. Now chiefly in pass.: To be divinely appointed or fated; often in weakened sense, expressing little more than the actual issue of events as ascertained by subsequent experience, without any definite reference to their predetermination. (Usually with inf.)
| c 1300 [see destining below]. a 1340 Hampole Psalter lxviii. 33 Þe boke of life is þe knawynge of god, in þe whilke he has destaynd all goed men to be safe. a 1400–50 Alexander 518 A barne..þat driȝtyn after þi day has destaned to regne. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon vii. 176 Yf god destyneth hym, he shall wynne the pryse. 1583 G. Bucke Commend. verses, Watson's Centurie of Loue, The starr's, which did at Petrarch's byrthday raigne, Were fixt againe at thy natiuity, Destening thee the Thuscan's poesie. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 13 Since the World..prevents Our best and worst Experiments; (As if th' were destin'd to miscarry). 1719 Young Revenge iv. i, Lovers destin'd for each other. 1816 Wilson City of Plague ii. ii. 95 Two such souls Are not by God destined to live apart. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Result Wks. (Bohn) II. 134 Their [the English] speech seems destined to be the universal language of men. 1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirl. III. 213 He was, however, not destined to escape so easily. 1874 Green Short Hist. vii. §1. 343 One who was destined to eclipse even the fame of Colet as a popular preacher. |
b. quasi-impers. (pass. or active) with indirect obj. and inf. (subject).
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 664 If me be destaynede to dye at Dryghtyns wylle. a 1400–50 Alexander 692 So was me destaned to dye. Ibid. 4115 Þat oþer dai be desert þam destaned to ride. |
3. To fix or set apart in intention for a particular purpose, use, end, course of action, etc.; to design, intend, devote, allot. (Most commonly in pass.)
| c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 408 Kyng Godyfer dyd destyng hym selfe to come on Gouernar as fast as he might; but Hector met him fyrst, and..ouerthrew him. 1541 R. Copland Galyen's Terapeutyke 2 H ij b, Hunny must be medled in all medicamentes destined & ordeyned to the vlcere of the Thorax. 1658 Evelyn Fr. Gard. (1675) 227 Some of these beds you must destine to be eaten young and green. 1707 Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 31 The little Hole..towards the..Extremity of the Bean, is destin'd for the Entrance of..aqueous Parts. 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess of Bristol 10 Apr., The apartment destined for Audiences. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India III. ii. 68 The time which was destined for re⁓assembling the parliament. 1822 Scott Pirate xxiii, With how little security man can reckon upon the days which he destines to happiness. 1844 Lingard Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858) II. xiv. 302 The ship destined to transport the missionaries. |
4. pass. to be destined: to be bound (for a particular place): see destined ppl. a. 2 b.
Hence † ˈdestining vbl. n. Obs.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 6867 Of God hit was thy destenyng. c 1440 Gaw. & Gol. 270 Dede be my destenyng. |
▪ II. destine
obs. f. destin, destiny.