certain

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Antonyms 1.3.3 Derived terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.4 Determiner 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 External links 1.6 Anagrams 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Adjective 2.3 Noun 2.4 Related terms 2.5 Anagrams

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English certain, certein from Old French certain from Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“‘fixed, resolved, certain’”), of the same origin as cretus, pp. of cernere (“‘to separate, perceive, decide’”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis "certain, sure" (from Old English ġewis, ġewiss "certain, sure"), and non-native Middle English sertane "some, certain" (from Middle English certain).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /sɜːtn/, SAMPA: /s3:tn/
• (GenAm) IPA: /sɝtn/, SAMPA: /s3`tn/
• (Canadian) IPA: /ˈsɝtən/, /ˈsɝt̚n̩/
•  Audio (CA)^{help, file}
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɜː(r)tən

• Hyphenation: cer‧tain

[edit] Adjective

Wikipedia certain (comparative more certain, superlative most certain)

1. Sure, positive, not doubting.

   I was certain of my decision.

[edit] Synonyms

• sure
• See also Wikisaurus:certain

[edit] Antonyms

• uncertain

[edit] Derived terms

• certainly adv
• certify vt

[edit] Translations

[edit] Determiner

certain

1. Having been determined but unspecified. The quality of some particular subject or object which is known by the speaker to have been specifically singled out among similar entities of its class.

   Certain people are good at playing (contract) bridge.

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• certain in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• certain in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: aceinrt
• tacrine
• tercian

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[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /sɛʁ.tɛ̃/
•  Audio^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

certain m. (f. certaine, m. plural certains, f. plural certaines)

1. certain (sure, positive)

   Il est certain qu'il viendra.

   It is certain that he will arrive.

2. certain (fixed, determined)
3. certain (specified, particular)

[edit] Noun

certain m. (plural certains)

1. certain, certainty

[edit] Related terms

• certainement
• certitude
• incertain

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: aceinrt
• carient
• cernait
• crainte
• criante
• écriant