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 ascertainment

detection, determination, find, finding

Examples from the Web for ascertainment

Historical Examples of ascertainment

Among these is the ascertainment of the solidity of the globe.
A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century
Agnes M. (Agnes Mary) Clerke
The period of the ascertainment of the causes of those laws.
History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science
John William Draper
The ascertainment of the direct distances was commenced in 1823.
The Development of Rates of Postage
A. D. Smith
The ascertainment of the position of the earth in the universe; 2.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume II (of 2)
John William Draper
Experiment, the great instrument for the ascertainment of truth in physical science, answers this question for us.
On the Study of Zoology
Thomas H. Huxley

British Dictionary definitions for ascertainment

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 ascertainment

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.