Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'foreordain'

English Word: foreordain

Key Russian Translations:

• предопределить /prʲɪdəprʲɪdlʲɪtʲ/ - [Formal; used in philosophical or theological contexts]
• предназначить /prʲɪdnaznaˈtʃʲɪtʲ/ - [Formal; often implies a purposeful assignment]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation but appear in literary, religious, or academic texts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and abstract concepts, though the vocabulary itself is manageable for learners with a solid grasp of basic Russian grammar.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

предопределить: /prʲɪdəprʲɪdlʲɪtʲ/

Note on предопределить: The stress falls on the fourth syllable (-dlʲɪ-). Be mindful of the palatalized 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the consonants.

предназначить: /prʲɪdnaznaˈtʃʲɪtʲ/

Note on предназначить: Stress is on the third syllable (-naz-). The 'ч' sound is similar to the English 'ch' in "church," but ensure it's pronounced with a soft, Russian palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To predetermine or decree something in advance, often with a sense of fate or divine will.

Translation(s) & Context:

• предопределить - Used in contexts involving destiny, philosophy, or theology, such as in discussions about fate.
• предназначить - Applied when something is assigned or destined for a specific purpose, like in planning or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Судьба предопределила их встречу в этом городе. (Sud'ba predopredelila ikh vstrechu v etom gorode.)

  Fate foreordained their meeting in this city. (This example shows the verb in a past tense context, emphasizing inevitability.)

• Бог предназначил ему стать великим лидером. (Bog prednaznachil emu stat' velikim liderom.)

  God foreordained him to become a great leader. (Here, the verb illustrates a purposeful destiny in a religious or motivational context.)

• Эти события были предопределены историческими факторами. (Eti sobytiya byli predopredeleny istoricheskimi faktorami.)

  These events were foreordained by historical factors. (This demonstrates use in an academic or analytical setting, with plural subjects.)

• Родители предназначали ей карьеру в медицине. (Roditeli prednaznachali ey kar'yeru v meditsine.)

  Her parents foreordained a career in medicine for her. (This example highlights personal or familial planning, showing the verb in imperfective aspect for ongoing intention.)

• В мифе боги предопределили исход битвы. (V mife bogi predopredelili iskhod bitvy.)

  In the myth, the gods foreordained the outcome of the battle. (This usage appears in literary or mythological contexts, illustrating divine intervention.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, specifically perfective verbs in Russian. They follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns for the first conjugation group. Note that Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. These verbs are imperfective in base form but can be used in perfective contexts.

These verbs do not have irregular forms but require attention to aspect (e.g., pair with imperfective forms like "предопределять" for ongoing actions). If the verb is used in compound tenses, additional auxiliaries may be needed.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • обречь (obrec') - Implies a sense of doom or inevitability.
  • заранее решить (zaranee reshit') - More literal, meaning to decide in advance.
• Antonyms:
  • изменить (izmenit') - To change or alter.
  • отменить (otmenit') - To cancel or revoke.

Related Phrases:

• Предопределенная судьба (Predopredelennaya sud'ba) - Predestined fate; used in discussions of life paths or philosophy.
• Предназначение в жизни (Prednaznacheniye v zhizni) - Life's purpose; a common phrase in self-help or motivational contexts.
• Богом предопределено (Bogom predopredeleno) - Foreordained by God; often appears in religious texts or conversations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "предопределить" and "предназначить" closely align with "foreordain" but carry a more formal or literary tone than everyday English equivalents. Use "предопределить" for fate-driven scenarios and "предназначить" for intentional assignments. Be cautious with aspect: pair these perfective verbs with imperfective counterparts (e.g., "предопределять") for ongoing actions. In formal writing or speech, these words enhance depth, but in casual conversation, simpler alternatives like "решить заранее" may be preferred to avoid sounding overly dramatic.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: Learners often use "предопределить" in imperfective contexts. Incorrect: "Я предопределяю будущее." (This implies an ongoing process, but it's perfective.) Correct: "Я предопределяю будущее" should be "Я предопределял будущее" for past, or use imperfective "предопределять" for present. Explanation: Russian verbs must match the action's completeness.

• Misapplying gender/number: Forgetting to adjust past tense forms, e.g., saying "Она предопределил" instead of "Она предопределила." Incorrect: "Она предопределил событие." Correct: "Она предопределила событие." Explanation: Past tense verbs in Russian agree with the subject's gender.

Cultural Notes:

Words like "предопределить" often evoke Russian literary traditions, such as in the works of Dostoevsky, where fate and destiny play central roles. In Russian culture, the concept of predestination is tied to Orthodox Christianity and folklore, emphasizing that life's events are part of a divine plan, which can influence how these terms are used in everyday expressions of resignation or acceptance.

Related Concepts:

• судьба (sud'ba) - Fate
• рок (rok) - Doom or fate
• предвидеть (predvidet') - To foresee