To predetermine something is to decide or arrange it before it happens, so it does not happen by chance.

To predetermine something predetermine某件事 is to decide or arrange it before it happens就是在它發生之前先決定或安排好 so it does not happen by chance讓它不是碰巧發生的

A teacher may predetermine the topics. A meeting may have a predetermined length because someone predetermined it.

A teacher一位老師 may predetermine the topics可能會predetermine題目 A meeting一場會議 may have a predetermined length可能會有predetermined的長度 because someone predetermined it因為有人先決定好了

Though actually, the word can sound cold, as if a person or a system locked the ending. Scientists also use it without a villain: the result was predetermined by the starting conditions — the setup left only one way for things to fall.

Though actually不過其實 the word can sound cold這個字可能聽起來有點冷酷 as if a person or a system locked the ending好像有個人或一套系統把結局鎖死了 Scientists also use it without a villain科學家也會用這個字，而且不帶壞人色彩 the result was predetermined by the starting conditions結果早就被起始條件predetermine了 the setup left only one way for things to fall設定本身就只留下一種可能的結果

It is more formal than “decide in advance” or “fix ahead of time,” which is what most people say.

It is more formal than "decide in advance" or "fix ahead of time,"它比「decide in advance」或「fix ahead of time」更正式 which is what most people say而那才是大多數人平常會說的

It is not predict. Predict is a guess about the future. Predetermine is making (or having) the future already decided.

It is not predict它不是predict Predict Predict is a guess about the future是對未來的猜測 Predetermine Predetermine is making (or having) the future already decided是讓（或已經讓）未來變成已經決定好的