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.

Words nearby ascertain

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

OTHER WORDS FROM ascertain

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 for ascertain

1. See learn.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for ascertaining

How far such welcome and adoption were voluntary we have no means of ascertaining.
The Cradle of Mankind|W.A. Wigram
I regret that my want of osteological science prevented me from ascertaining to what animal these bones had belonged.
Notes and Queries, Number 64, January 18, 1851|Various
Happily, we shall never have an opportunity of ascertaining whether I am right.
Josephine|John S. C. Abbott
We even forgot the luncheon baskets; and no one thought of ascertaining what the blast had accomplished.
A Busy Year at the Old Squire's|Charles Asbury Stephens

After ascertaining that the fox had not yet passed, they took their stations.
Frank, the Young Naturalist|Harry Castlemon

British Dictionary definitions for ascertaining

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

ascertain

verb (used with object)

Words related to ascertain

Words nearby ascertain

Origin of ascertain

OTHER WORDS FROM ascertain

synonym study for ascertain

Examples from the Web for ascertaining

British Dictionary definitions for ascertaining

verb (tr)

Derived forms of ascertain

Word Origin for ascertain