ascertain
- 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
Synonym study
Related Words for ascertained
confirm, verify, determine, divine, double-check, dig, eye, read, fix, discover, tell, see, settle, identify, learn, peg, establish, check, size, eyeballExamples 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.
Historical Examples of ascertained
If any exist they ought to be ascertained and guarded against.
This remained to be ascertained in exploring that river upwards.
I think I have a clue by which his address may be ascertained.
Life in LondonEdwin Hodder
Of my father, I knew nothing; I have since ascertained he must then have been dead.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
The precise occasion of this offence cannot, and need not, be ascertained.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IFrancis Augustus Cox
ascertain
- to determine or discover definitely
- archaic to make certain
Word Origin for ascertain
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.