Destined to fail, suffer, or be destroyed; having a fate that cannot be avoided. Condemned to an unpleasant or tragic outcome.
From Old English 'dom' meaning 'judgment' or 'statute,' related to 'deman' (to judge). Originally referred to legal judgment, but evolved to suggest inevitable negative fate by the 14th century.
The word 'doom' originally meant any judgment, good or bad - 'doomsday' was simply 'judgment day.' The exclusively negative meaning developed because most memorable judgments in literature and history involved punishment rather than reward.
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