certain

certain
/serr"tn/, adj.
1. free from doubt or reservation; confident; sure: I am certain he will come.
2. destined; sure to happen (usually fol. by an infinitive): He is certain to be there.
3. inevitable; bound to come: They realized then that war was certain.
4. established as true or sure; unquestionable; indisputable: It is certain that he tried.
5. fixed; agreed upon; settled: on a certain day; for a certain amount.
6. definite or particular, but not named or specified: A certain person phoned. He had a certain charm.
7. that may be depended on; trustworthy; unfailing; reliable: His aim was certain.
8. some though not much: a certain reluctance.
9. Obs. steadfast.
10. for certain, without a doubt; surely: I know for certain that I have seen that face before.
11. certain ones: Certain of the members declined the invitation.
[1250-1300; ME < OF < VL *certanus, equiv. to L cert(us) sure, settled (cer- base of cernere to decide, + -tus ptp. suffix) + -anus -AN]
Syn. 1. convinced, satisfied. See sure. 4. indubitable, incontestable, irrefutable, incontrovertible, obvious, plain, clear. 5. determined.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • certain — certain, aine [ sɛrtɛ̃, ɛn ] adj. et pron. • certan 1160; lat. pop. °certanus, de certus « assuré » I ♦ Adj. A ♦ Après le nom 1 ♦ (Possibilité) (Sujet chose) Qui est effectif sans laisser aucun doute, perçu directement ou établi par des preuves,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Certain — Cer tain, a. [F. certain, fr. (assumed) LL. certanus, fr. L. certus determined, fixed, certain, orig. p. p. of cernere to perceive, decide, determine; akin to Gr. ? to decide, separate, and to E. concern, critic, crime, riddle a sieve, rinse, v.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • certain — I (fixed) adjective absolute, assured, attested, certified, changeless, conclusive, confident, confirmed, decided, decisive, definite, determinate, determined, firm, guaranteed, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable,… …   Law dictionary

  • Certain — Cer tain, n. 1. Certainty. [Obs.] Gower. [1913 Webster] 2. A certain number or quantity. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Certain — war ein französischer Hersteller von Automobilen. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Unternehmensgeschichte 2 Fahrzeuge 3 Literatur 4 Weblinks …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Certain — Cer tain, adv. Certainly. [Obs.] Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • CERTAIN — AINE. adj. Indubitable, vrai, sûr. En ce sens, il ne se dit que Des choses. Cela est certain. La nouvelle est certaine. Faire un rapport certain. J ai eu un avis certain, j ai reçu l avis certain que... Je sais cela de science certaine. Preuve… …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • certain — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French, from Vulgar Latin *certanus, from Latin certus, from past participle of cernere to sift, discern, decide; akin to Greek krinein to separate, decide, judge, Old Irish criathar sieve Date:… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • certain — See: FOR SURE or FOR CERTAIN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • certain — See: FOR SURE or FOR CERTAIN …   Dictionary of American idioms

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