1598, "act of appointing," from L.
destinationem (nom.
destinatio), from
destinare "determine, appoint, choose, make firm or fast," from
de- "completely, formally" +
-stinare, related to
stare "to stand," from PIE base
*sta- "to stand" (see
stet). Modern sense (1787) is from
place of destination, where one is "destined" to go.