certain

¹cer·tain

adj \ˈsər-t^ən\

Definition of CERTAIN

1

: fixed, settled <a certain percentage of the profit>

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>

— for certain

: as a certainty : assuredly <the cause is not known for certain>

— of a certain age

: of a somewhat advanced age : no longer young <remembered by people of a certain age>

Examples of CERTAIN

1. I'm fairly certain that I'll be on time.
2. <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

Synonyms: anonymous, given, one, some, unidentified, unnamed, unspecified

Antonyms: doubtful, dubious, uncertain, unsure

Related Words: particular, specific

Near Antonyms: known, named, specified

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at sure

Rhymes with CERTAIN

curtain