ascertain

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Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Old French acertener, from (a- (to, towards) + certener (make sure of), from the adjective certain.

Pronunciation [edit]

Verb [edit]

ascertain (third-person singular simple present ascertains, present participle ascertaining, simple past and past participle ascertained)

  1. To find out definitely; to discover or establish.
    • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, The Tremarn Case[1]:
      “There the cause of death was soon ascertained ; the victim of this daring outrage had been stabbed to death from ear to ear with a long, sharp instrument, in shape like an antique stiletto, which […] was subsequently found under the cushions of the hansom. […]”
    As soon as we ascertain what the situation is, we can plan how to proceed.

Usage notes [edit]

  • Ascertain is a formal-sounding word. In informal contexts, it can sound pretentious and is best replaced with a more informal synonym.

Synonyms [edit]

Translations [edit]

Anagrams [edit]