ascertain

[ as-er-teyn ]

/ ˌæs ərˈteɪn /

SEE MORE 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.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

ascension day, ascensionist, ascensiontide, ascensive, ascent, ascertain, ascesis, ascetic, asceticism, asch, aschaffenburg

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

Related forms

as·cer·tain·a·ble, adjectiveas·cer·tain·a·bly, adverbas·cer·tain·er, nounas·cer·tain·ment, noun

non·as·cer·tain·a·ble, adjectivenon·as·cer·tain·a·ble·ness, nounnon·as·cer·tain·a·bly, adverbnon·as·cer·tain·ment, nounpre·as·cer·tain, verb (used with object)pre·as·cer·tain·ment, nounun·as·cer·tain·a·ble, adjectiveun·as·cer·tain·a·bly, adverbun·as·cer·tained, adjectivewell-as·cer·tained, adjective

Synonym study

1. See learn.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ascertainable

But all these are facts of nature, belonging to the case, ascertainable by experience and reason.
A Defence of Virginia|Robert L. Dabney
Descent would necessarily be traced through females, because the paternity of children was not ascertainable with certainty.
Ancient Society|Lewis Henry Morgan
The only ascertainable fact is that he was the proprietor of the house with the sign of the Bear (l'Ours).
The Life of Joan of Arc, Vol. 1 and 2 (of 2)|Anatole France
As for the elasticity of the ether, that is ascertainable at once from the speed at which it transmits waves.
The Ether of Space|Oliver Lodge

Sexual selection, even when left to random influences, is still not left to chance; it follows definite and ascertainable laws.
The Task of Social Hygiene|Havelock Ellis

British Dictionary definitions for ascertainable

ascertain

/ (ˌæsəˈteɪn) /

verb (tr)

to determine or discover definitely

archaic to make certain

Derived Forms

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