kismet
UK[ˈkɪz.met]US[ˈkɪz.met]
n
fate or destiny
Etymology
The word 'kismet' entered English in the early 19th century from Turkish 'kısmet', which itself derives from Arabic 'qisma', meaning 'portion' or 'lot'. The Arabic root 'q-s-m' relates to dividing or allotting. This etymological journey reflects the concept of fate as one's preordained share or portion in life. The term was popularized in English through literature and travel narratives describing Eastern cultures, carrying with it a sense of an inexorable, often favorable, destiny.
Analysis
This word is a loanword borrowed as a single, unanalyzable unit into English.
Examples
They met by pure kismet on a train to Istanbul.
He believed his success was not luck, but kismet.
She accepted the strange turn of events as kismet.