The word Kismet is of foreign origin and is used in Turkish, Urdu, Hindi and Arabic. In Hindi it would be pronounced more like kismat, and it means "fate" or "
destiny". The meaning is exactly the same in English. So instead of saying, "it is fate", you could say "it is kismet".
Kismet is also the
name of a robot at an MIT research lab that is used to demonstrate simulated emotion. However, there is no connection between the meaning of the robot's name and its use. The only meaning of Kismet is fate or
destiny.
The word kismet was used on Season 5 Episode
25 of Star Trek DS9 (thats where I first heard it). Jake Sisco and the Ferengi Nag were bidding for a 1951 earth baseball card at one of Quark's auctions. They planned to give it to Benjamin Sisco, captain of DS9 to raise his spirits. They were outbid by someone with a lot more gold pressed latinum (space currency) than them. Here's the dialog:
Jake Sisco: I want to give my dad something that
will bring a little joy into his
life. Something special. Im telling you that baseball card is the answer. Its kismet.
Nag: Kiss you ?
Jake Sisco: (annoyed) Kismet - fate,
destiny. I was meant to give that card to my
father.