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ascertain

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To ascertain is defined as to verify or confirm something.

(verb)

An example of ascertain is to step on a scale to determine your correct weight.

See ascertain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

Archaic to make certain or definite
to find out with certainty

Origin: ME acertainen < OFr acertainer < a-, to + certain, certain

Related Forms:

ascertainable adjective
ascertainment noun

See ascertain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb as·cer·tained, as·cer·tain·ing, as·cer·tains

To discover with certainty, as through examination or experimentation. See Synonyms at discover.
Archaic To make certain, definite, and precise.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English acertainen, to inform

Origin: , from Old French acertener, ascertain-

Origin: : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-)

Origin: + certain, certain; see certain

Related Forms:

asˌcer·tainˈa·ble adjective

asˌcer·tainˈa·ble·ness noun

asˌcer·tainˈa·bly adverb

asˌcer·tainˈment noun

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