ascertain

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Archived revision by 176.225.26.51 (talk) as of 03:02, 8 December 2019.
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

WOTD – 19 January 2013
WOTD – 19 January 2015

Etymology

Lua error: The template Template:PIE root does not use the parameter(s): 
2=krey
Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.

(deprecated template usage)

From Old French acertener, from a- (“to, towards”) + certener (“make sure of”), from the adjective certain, from Latin certus (“certain, fixed”). Compare to Spanish acertar.

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 291: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˌæsəˈteɪn/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 291: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: ăs'-ər-tānʹ, IPA(key): /ˌæsɚˈteɪn/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪn
  • Hyphenation: as‧cer‧tain

Verb

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.
    Synonyms: determine, discover, establish, find out, learn, work out
    As soon as we ascertain what the situation is, we can plan how to proceed.
    • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in 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. […]”
  2. (obsolete) To make (someone) certain or confident about something; to inform.
    • 1436, Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, editor, Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England, volume IV, published 1835, page 352c:
      Therfore the saide cõmissioners shall mowe say that nowe late during the parlement the King ascertaigned of the saide maliciouse prpose of his enemys, willed and desired the lords being then present to shewe their̃ good willes aide and helpe for the saide rescues […]
    • Lua error in Module:quote at line 896: |origdate= should contain a full date (year, month, day of month); use |origyear= for year
    • 1769, William Robertson, “The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V”, in George Gleig, editor, The Historical Works of William Robertson, volume V, Edinburgh: Doig & Stirling, published 1813, page 395:
      Muncer Assured them, that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its success.
  3. (archaic) To establish, to prove.
    • Lua error in Module:quote at line 2959: Parameter "part" is not used by this template.
    • 1800, Edward Malone, The Critical and Miscellaneous Prose Works of John Dryden, volume III, London: H. Baldwin and Son, page 382 (note 8):
      In 1695 he [Walter Moyle] was chosen to represent the borough of Saltash in parliament ; a circumstance which ascertains the piece before us to have been written subsequent to that period.
    • 1842, Isaac D'Israeli, “The Ship of Fools”, in Amenities of Literature: Consisting of Sketches and Characters of English Literature, volume I, Paris: Baudry, page 254:
      We must look somewhat deeper would we learn why a book which now tries our patience was not undeserving of those multiplied editions which have ascertained its popularity.
  4. (archaic) To ensure or effect.
    • 1751 June 29, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler‎[2], volume III, number 134, London: A. Millar et al., published 1761, page 155:
      It is true, that no diligence can aſcertain ſucceſs ; death may intercept the ſwifteſt career ; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honeſt undertaking, has at leaſt the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he miſſed the victory.
    • Lua error in Module:quote at line 2959: Parameter "part" is not used by this template.
    • 1824, Sir Walter Scott, “Administration”, in St. Ronan's Well, Boston: Samuel H. Parker, page 29:
      On the contrary, the Squire’s influence as a man of family and property, in the immediate neighbourhood, who actually kept greyhounds, and at least talked of hunters and races, ascertained him the support of the whole class of bucks, half and whole bred, from the three next counties ; and if more inducements were wanting, he could grant his favourites the privilege of shooting over his moors, which is enough to turn the head of a young Scotchman at any time.

Translations

Anagrams

Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=ascertain&oldid=58130987"