ascertain

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: as=cer=tain

CIDE DICTIONARY

ascertain, v. t. [OF. acertener; a (L. ad) + certain. See Certain.].

•  To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise.  [1913 Webster]

  "When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained."  [1913 Webster]

  "Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine.  [1913 Webster]

  "The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth."  [1913 Webster]

  "The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation."  [1913 Webster]

  "The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers."  [1913 Webster]

  "The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation."  [1913 Webster]
•  To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal.  [1913 Webster]

  "He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ascertain, v.tr.
1 find out as a definite fact.
2 get to know.

Derivative

ascertainable adj. ascertainment n.

Etymology

ME f. OF acertener, stem acertain- f. {agrave} to + CERTAIN

THESAURUS

ascertain

afford proof of, appraise, ask, assure, be informed, become acquainted with, bring home to, broaden the mind, catch on, certify, cinch, clear up, clinch, consider, contemplate, cram the mind, decide, demonstrate, determine, discover, dismiss all doubt, ensure, establish, find, find out, find out about, fix, follow, follow from, gain knowledge, get, get at, get hold of, have a case, hear, hold good, hold water, inquire, inspect, insure, interrogate, learn, learn about, load the mind, make a decision, make certain, make good, make no doubt, make no mistake, make out, make sure, make sure of, nail down, observe, pick up information, prove, prove to be, prove true, query, question, reassure, remove all doubt, resolve, see, see that, see to it, set at rest, settle, settle the matter, show, sort out, study, survey, tumble, unearth, view, weigh

ROGET THESAURUS

ascertain

Stability

VB be firm, stick fast, stand firm, keep firm, remain firm, weather the storm, stay the course, stick to the course, keep the faith, don't give in, don't buckle under, settle, establish, stablish, ascertain, fix, set, stabilitate, retain, keep hold, make good, make sure, fasten, set on its legs, float, perpetuate, settle down, strike roots, put down roots, take root, take up one's abode, build one's house on a rock.

Judgment

VB judge, conclude, come to a conclusion, draw a conclusion, arrive at a conclusion, ascertain, determine, make up one's mind, deduce, derive, gather, collect, draw an inference, make a deduction, weet, ween, form an estimate, estimate, appreciate, value, count, assess, rate, rank, account, regard, consider, think of, look upon, review, size up, settle, pass an opinion, give an opinion, decide, try, pronounce, rule, pass judgment, pass sentence, sentence, doom, find, give judgment, deliver judgment, adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, award, report, bring in a verdict, make absolute, set a question at rest, confirm, comment, criticize, kibitz, pass under review, investigate, hold the scales, sit in judgment, try judgment, hear a cause.