appointment in samarra: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Literary/Allusive)Formal / Literary
Quick answer
What does “appointment in samarra” mean?
A literary/philosophical reference to an unavoidable and fatal encounter with death or fate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A literary/philosophical reference to an unavoidable and fatal encounter with death or fate; an inescapable, predestined meeting, often with a negative outcome.
Used to describe any situation where a person's attempts to avoid a certain fate ironically lead them directly toward it, highlighting the futility of trying to escape destiny.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or understanding, as it is a reference from English-language literature (Somerset Maugham). Recognized by educated speakers in both regions.
Connotations
Connotes fatalism, literary sophistication, and philosophical reflection in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties, confined to literary, academic, or philosophical discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “appointment in samarra” in a Sentence
The story/concept of an appointment in Samarrato have an appointment in Samarrato try to avoid one's appointment in SamarraVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “appointment in samarra” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb) He could not verb his appointment in Samarra.
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb) You cannot appointment your way out of fate.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard) He fled, Samarra-appointedly, towards his fate.
American English
- (Not standard) Events moved Samarra-ward, towards their conclusion.
adjective
British English
- (Not standard) The Samarra-appointment scenario haunted him.
- He had a Samarra-esque sense of impending doom.
American English
- (Not standard) It was an appointment-in-Samarra kind of inevitability.
- Her journey took on a Samarra-like futility.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in standard business contexts. Could appear metaphorically in high-stakes strategic discussions about unavoidable market forces.
Academic
Used in literature, philosophy, and cultural studies courses to discuss themes of fate, irony, and intertextuality.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Would be recognised only by well-read individuals.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “appointment in samarra”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “appointment in samarra”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “appointment in samarra”
- Using it to mean a literal appointment or business meeting in the city of Samarra.
- Misspelling 'Samarra' (e.g., Samara, Semarra).
- Using it in an inappropriate, non-philosophical context where a simpler word like 'fate' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Samarra is a real city in Iraq. However, the phrase refers to the literary and metaphorical concept from the story, not to scheduling a literal visit there.
It comes from W. Somerset Maugham's 1933 play 'Sheppey', where he retells an ancient Mesopotamian or Arabic parable. It was later the title of a 1934 novel by John O'Hara.
It is not used in everyday conversation. It is a literary allusion suitable for formal writing, philosophical discussion, or when making a pointed metaphor about fate and irony.
Both refer to a destined meeting. 'Appointment in Samarra' strongly implies that attempts to avoid it are the very cause of it happening, emphasising tragic irony. 'Date with destiny' is more neutral and can have a positive or negative connotation.
A literary/philosophical reference to an unavoidable and fatal encounter with death or fate.
Appointment in samarra is usually formal / literary in register.
Appointment in samarra: in British English it is pronounced /əˈpɔɪntmənt ɪn səˈmɑːrə/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpɔɪntmənt ɪn səˈmɑːrə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A date with destiny”
- “A rendezvous with fate”
- “Meeting one's maker”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SAMARRA as a place you can't AVOID. APPOINTMENT sounds formal, like a meeting you MUST attend. The story tells of a man who runs from death, only to meet it in the very place he fled to.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEATH IS A SCHEDULED MEETING; FATE IS A DESTINATION; ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE FATE ARE A JOURNEY TO THE VERY PLACE WHERE FATE AWAITS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'an appointment in Samarra'?