certain
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1cer·tain
adjective \ˈsər-tən\Definition of CERTAIN
2
: of a specific but unspecified character, quantity, or degree <the house has a certain charm>
3
a : dependable, reliable <a certain remedy for the disease> b : known or proved to be true : indisputable <it is certain that we exist>
4
a : inevitable <the certain advance of age> b : incapable of failing : destined —used with a following infinitive <she is certain to do well>
5
: assured in mind or action <I am certain they are right>
— of a certain age
: of a somewhat advanced age : no longer young <remembered by people of a certain age>
See Examples of CERTAIN
- I'm fairly certain that I'll be on time.
- <a certain person told me that today is your birthday>
Origin of CERTAIN
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
First Known Use: 13th century
Related to CERTAIN
Rhymes with CERTAIN
2certain
pronoun, plural in constructionDefinition of CERTAIN
: certain ones
First Known Use of CERTAIN
15th century
Rhymes with CERTAIN
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