ascertain

[ as-er-teyn ]
/ ˌæs ərˈteɪn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ascertain ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to find out definitely; learn with certainty or assurance; determine: to ascertain the facts.
Archaic. to make certain, clear, or definitely known.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ascertain

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

synonym study for ascertain

1. See learn.

OTHER WORDS FROM ascertain

Words nearby ascertain

ascension day, ascensionist, ascensiontide, ascensive, ascent, ascertain, ascesis, ascetic, asceticism, asch, aschaffenburg
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to ascertain

confirm, verify, determine, divine, double-check, dig, eye, read, fix, discover, tell, see, settle, identify, learn, peg, establish, check, size, eyeball

Example sentences from the Web for ascertain

British Dictionary definitions for ascertain

ascertain
/ (ˌæsəˈteɪn) /

verb (tr)

to determine or discover definitely
archaic to make certain

Derived forms of ascertain

ascertainable, adjectiveascertainably, adverbascertainment, noun

Word Origin for ascertain

C15: from Old French acertener to make certain
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012