Ascertain

Definition of Ascertain

As`cer`tain´

v. t.	1.	To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise. [imp. & p. p. Ascertained ( ); p. pr. & vb. n. Ascertaining.] When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained. - Jer. Taylor. Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects. - Robertson.
	2.	To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine. The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth. - Hooker. The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation. - Jer. Taylor. The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers. - Smollett. The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation. - Gibbon.
	3.	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. He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable. - Macaulay.

Related Words

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 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

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Ascaris
Ascend
Ascendable
Ascendancy
Ascendant
Ascendency
ascendent
Ascendible
Ascending
Ascending latitude
Ascending line
Ascending node
Ascending series
Ascending signs
Ascension
Ascension Day
Ascensional
Ascensional difference
Ascensive
Ascent
-Ascertain-
Ascertainable
Ascertainer
Ascertainment
Ascessancy
Ascetic
Ascetic theology
ascetical
Asceticism
Ascham
Asci
Ascian
Ascidian
Ascidiarium
Ascidiform
Ascidioidea
Ascidiozooid
Ascidium
Ascigerous
Ascii
Ascites

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