Careful Words

destiny (n.)

Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Merchant of Venice. Act ii. Sc. 9.

Where'er she lie,

Locked up from mortal eye,

In shady leaves of destiny.

Richard Crashaw (Circa 1616-1650): Wishes to his Supposed Mistress.

  As Meander says, "For our mind is God;" and as Heraclitus, "Man's genius is a deity."

Plutarch (46(?)-120(?) a d): Platonic Questions. i.

  Marriage and hanging go by destiny; matches are made in heaven.

Robert Burton (1576-1640): Anatomy of Melancholy. Part iii. Sect. 2, Memb. 2, Subsect. 5.

  One country, one constitution, one destiny.

Daniel Webster (1782-1852): Speech, March 15, 1837. P. 349.

Wedding is destiny,

And hanging likewise.

John Heywood (Circa 1565): Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.