ascertain
Use Ascertain in a sentence
ərˈteɪn 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 Middle English, variant of assertain, acertain < Middle French acertain- (tonic stem of acertener to make certain), equivalent to a- a-5 + certain certain
1400–50; late Middle English, variant of assertain, acertain < Middle French acertain- (tonic stem of acertener to make certain), equivalent 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
non·as·cer·tain·a·ble, adjective
non·as·cer·tain·a·ble·ness, noun
non·as·cer·tain·a·b·ly, adverb
non·as·cer·tain·ment, noun
pre·as·cer·tain, verb (used with object)
pre·as·cer·tain·ment, noun
un·as·cer·tain·a·ble, adjective
un·as·cer·tain·a·b·ly, adverb
un·as·cer·tained, adjective
well-as·cer·tained, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To ascertain
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Ascertain
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| to bark; yelp. |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
ascertain (ˌæsəˈteɪn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to determine or discover definitely |
| 2. | archaic to make certain |
| [C15: from Old French acertener to make certain] | |
| ascer'tainable | |
| —adj | |
| ascer'tainably | |
| —adv | |
| ascer'tainment | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
ascertain
early 15c., "to inform, to give assurance," from O.Fr. acertener "to assure" (13c.), 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The incidence of shark disease is tough to ascertain.
The number of illegal migrants is by definition hard to ascertain, but likely to be smaller than the legal sort.
They then tried to ascertain the subsequent five-year return.
We wished to ascertain how such diversity of regional color categories correlated with ancestry.
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