Definition of acertain
1. ascertain [ v ] after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
Examples:
"find the product of two numbers"
"The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize"
(Clifford H. Pope, The Giant Snakes....)
Other herpetologists have ascertained that in the northern United_States the prairie_rattlesnake may_not give first birth until it is four or even five years old , and that the young may be_born every_other year , rather_than annually .
(Richard F. McLaughlin, et al., "A study of the...)
Anatomically , the horse lung appears to be remarkably like that of man , insofar as this can be ascertained from comparison of our findings in the horse with those of others ( Birnbaum , ' 54 ) in the human_being .
(Edwin L. Bigelow and Nancy H. Otis,...)
In November 1900 surveying was done under John_Marsden on the east mountains to ascertain if it would be possible to get sufficient water and fall to operate an electric power_plant .
Synonyms determine find find_out ascertain Related Terms count situate refract admeasure gauge translate sequence redetermine rectify discover determine decision determination2. ascertain [ v ] be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
Examples:
"He verified that the valves were closed"
"See that the curtains are closed"
"control the quality of the product"
(Edwin Booth, Outlaw Town....)
He paused only long enough to ascertain that Jess 's buckskin was still missing and that his own gray was all_right , then climbed through a back window and dropped to the ground outside .
Synonyms see insure assure check see_to_it ensure ascertain control Related Terms verify cover proofread cross-check double-check control card spot-check cinch determine control check check3. ascertain [ v ] find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
Examples:
"I want to see whether she speaks French"
"See whether it works"
"find out if he speaks Russian"
"Check whether the train leaves on time"
4. ascertain [ v ] give evidence
Examples:
"he was telling on all his former colleague"
5. ascertain [ v ] learn or discover with certainty
Synonyms ascertain Related Terms learn priceSimilar Spelling
ascertainaccretion
ascertained
acritical
accretive
acerate
accrete
acardia
