A death resulting from an accident, disaster, or violent incident. The term can also refer to the quality of being destined to cause death or disaster.
From Latin 'fatalis' meaning 'decreed by fate' or 'deadly', derived from 'fatum' meaning 'fate' or 'doom'. The word entered Middle English through Old French 'fatalité' in the 14th century. Originally emphasized the concept of predetermined destiny, but evolved to focus more on death as an outcome.
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