ascertain

Etymology

From Old French acertener, from (a- (“to, towards”) + certener (“make sure of”), from the adjective certain.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /æsəˈteɪn/
• (US) enPR: ăs-ər-tānʹ, IPA^(key): /æsɚˈteɪn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪn
• Hyphenation: as‧cer‧tain

Verb

ascertain (third-person singular simple present ascertains, present participle ascertaining, simple past and past participle ascertained)

1. To find out definitely; to discover or establish.

   Synonyms: determine, discover, establish, find out, learn, work out

   • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in The Tremarn Case‎:

     “There the cause of death was soon ascertained ; the victim of this daring outrage had been stabbed to death from ear to ear with a long, sharp instrument, in shape like an antique stiletto, which […] was subsequently found under the cushions of the hansom. […]”

   As soon as we ascertain what the situation is, we can plan how to proceed.

2. (archaic) To make (someone) certain or confident.
   • 1483, Richard III of England, personal letter

     We would most gladly ye came yourself if that ye may...praying you to ascertain us of your News.

Anagrams

• Cartesian, arsacetin, cartesian, craniates, intracase, sectarian