ascertain

[as-er-teyn]

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.

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 formsas·cer·tain·a·ble, adjectiveas·cer·tain·a·bly, adverbas·cer·tain·er, nounas·cer·tain·ment, nounnon·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. 2018

Related Words for ascertained

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

Examples from the Web for ascertained

Contemporary Examples of ascertained

"This is hours old and the full facts are still to be ascertained as those involved are debriefed," officials said.
Day 2: Breaking News About Osama bin Laden's Death
The Daily Beast
May 3, 2011

Historical Examples of ascertained

If any exist they ought to be ascertained and guarded against.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
This remained to be ascertained in exploring that river upwards.
Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia
Thomas Mitchell
I think I have a clue by which his address may be ascertained.
Life in London
Edwin Hodder
Of my father, I knew nothing; I have since ascertained he must then have been dead.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper
The precise occasion of this offence cannot, and need not, be ascertained.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I
Francis Augustus Cox

British Dictionary definitions for ascertained

ascertain

verb (tr)

to determine or discover definitely
archaic to make certain

Derived Formsascertainable, 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

Word Origin and History for ascertained

ascertain

early 15c., "to inform, to give assurance," from Anglo-French acerteiner, Old French acertener "to assure, certify" (13c.), from a "to" (see ad-) + certain "certain" (see certain). Modern meaning of "find out for sure by experiment or investigation" is first attested 1794. Related: Ascertained; ascertaining.