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ascertain - 4 dictionary results

as⋅cer⋅tain

  [as-er-teyn]
Use ascertain in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to find out definitely; learn with certainty or assurance; determine: to ascertain the facts.
2. Archaic. to make certain, clear, or definitely known.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME, var. of assertain, acertain < MF acertain- (tonic s. of acertener to make certain), equiv. to a- a- 5 + certain certain

Related forms:
as⋅cer⋅tain⋅a⋅ble, adjective
as⋅cer⋅tain⋅a⋅bly, adverb
as⋅cer⋅tain⋅er, noun
as⋅cer⋅tain⋅ment, noun

Synonyms:
1. See learn.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ascertain
as·cer·tain   (ās'ər-tān')   
tr.v.   as·cer·tained, as·cer·tain·ing, as·cer·tains
  1. To discover with certainty, as through examination or experimentation. See Synonyms at discover.
  2. Archaic To make certain, definite, and precise.

[Middle English acertainen, to inform, from Old French acertener, ascertain- : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + certain, certain; see certain.]
as'cer·tain'a·ble adj., as'cer·tain'a·ble·ness n., as'cer·tain'a·bly adv., as'cer·tain'ment n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Ascertain

As`cer*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascertained; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascertaining.] [OF. acertener; a (L. ad) + certain. See Certain.]

1. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise. [Obs.]

When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained. --Jer. Taylor.

Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects. --Robertson.

2. To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine. [Archaic]

The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth. --Hooker.

The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation. --Jer. Taylor.

The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers. --Smollett.

The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation. --Gibbon.

3. To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal.

He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable. --Macaulay.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : ascertain
Spanish: esclarecer, descubrir,
German: feststellen,
Japanese: 確かめる
More Translations »

ascertain 
1417, "to inform, to give assurance," from O.Fr. acertener "to assure," from a "to" + certain "certain" (see certain). Modern meaning of "to find out for sure by experiment or investigation" is first attested 1794.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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