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Certain
Definitions
- 1 Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.
"I was certain of my decision."
- 2 Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.
"Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled."
- 3 Sure to happen, inevitable; assured.
"It is certain that Spain will reach the finals. / Spain is now certain to reach the finals. / Spain is now certain of a place in the finals."
- 4 Unfailing; infallible.
"I have often wished, that I knew so certain a remedy in any other disease"
- 5 Fixed; regular; determinate.
"at certain intervals"
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- 6 Particular and definite, but unspecified or unnamed; used to introduce someone or something without going into further detail.
"Every wine has a certain distinctive character which sets it apart from all others."
- 7 Used to denote that the speaker is referring to a specific person or thing that they do not want to name directly, implying that the listener should infer the identity of the referent. euphemistic
"I would have been here on time, but a certain someone lost the car keys!"
- 8 Named but not previously mentioned.
"Looking inside the cover, they learned that the book had once belonged to a certain R. Jones."
- 9 Used before the name of someone famous that people are expected to know.
"Since the last British government to make such a proposal was that of a certain Margaret Thatcher, it might not seem unreasonable."
- 10 Determined; resolved. obsolete
"However I with thee have fixt my Lot, Certain to undergoe like doom[…]"
- 1 exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance wordnet
- 2 established beyond doubt or question; definitely known wordnet
- 3 having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured wordnet
- 4 certain to occur; destined or inevitable wordnet
- 5 definite but not specified or identified wordnet
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- 6 reliable in operation or effect wordnet
- 7 established irrevocably wordnet
- 1 Having been determined but not specified.
"Certain people are good at running."
- 1 A surname.
- 1 Unnamed or undescribed members (of). with-of
"She mentioned a series of contracts, of which certain are not cited."
Etymology
From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“fixed, resolved, certain”), of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere (“to separate, perceive, decide”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)) and alternative Middle English spelling sertane (“some, certain”).
From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“fixed, resolved, certain”), of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere (“to separate, perceive, decide”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)) and alternative Middle English spelling sertane (“some, certain”).
From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“fixed, resolved, certain”), of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere (“to separate, perceive, decide”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)) and alternative Middle English spelling sertane (“some, certain”).
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