certain en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈsɝ.ʔn̩/ (Canada, General-American)
- /ˈsɜː.tən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈsɝ.tn̩/ (Canada, General-American)
- /ˈsɜː.tn̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
- (Canada) audio
- /ˈsɝ.tən/ (Canada, General-American)
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”).
Meanings
-
Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.
[…] I think, nay, I may say that I'm sartain, we'll have a hurricane afore morning. It's not the first time I've cruised in these latitudes.
1833, [Frederick Marryat], chapter VIII, in Peter Simple. […], volume III, London: Saunders and Otley, […], published 1834, →OCLC, page 113:I GET letters from you far too seldom considering that you can much more easily find people starting for Rome than I to Athens: considering, too, that you are more certain of my being at Rome than I of your being at Athens.
1920, Cicero, translated by Evelyn Shirley Shuckburgh, The Letters of Cicero: The Whole Extant Correspondence in Chronological Order, volume 1 (hardcover), London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., page 5:I was certain of my decision.
-
Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.
[…]the dreame is certaine, and the interpretation thereof ſure.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Daniel 2:45, column 1:Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled.
-
Sure to happen, inevitable; assured.
Bankruptcy is the certain outcome of your constant gambling and lending.
How vain is Virtue which directs our ways Through certain danger to uncertain praiſe!
1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, Act II, page 29: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.
[…]death (as the Pſalmiſt ſaith) is certaine to all, all ſhall die.
c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
-
Unfailing; infallible.
I have often wished, that I knew so certain a remedy in any other disease
1702, Richard Mead, Mechanical Account of Poisons:
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Fixed; regular; determinate.
at certain intervals
Then ſaid the Lord vnto Moſes, Behold, I will raine bread from heauen for you: and the people ſhall goe out, and gather a certaine rate euery day, that I may proue them, whether they will walke in my Law, or no.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 16:4, column 1:
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Particular and definite, but unspecified or unnamed; used to introduce someone or something without going into further detail.
About everything that he wrote, serious or sportive, there was a certain natural grace and decorum[…]
1856 February, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “[Contributions to the Encyclopædia Britannica.] Oliver Goldsmith.”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871, →OCLC, page 365:Every wine has a certain distinctive character which sets it apart from all others.
Each morning, she would see a certain man rush past her window on his way to work.
And it came to paſſe, when he was in a certaine citie[…]
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 5:12, column 1:
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(euphemistic, qualifier:preceded by "a") 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.
I would have been here on time, but a certain someone lost the car keys!
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(of a person, qualifier:preceded by "a") Named but not previously mentioned.
About 140 years ago, for example, a certain Hsü Kuang-ming established an ancestral estate in Wanluan consisting of ten hectares. The trust was specifically set aside to provide for his own worship after death, and access to its profits was to be enjoyed only by his descendants.
1972, Burton Pasternak, “Kinship”, in Kinship & Community in Two Chinese Villages, Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, pages 75–76:Looking inside the cover, they learned that the book had once belonged to a certain R. Jones.
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(of a person, qualifier:preceded by "a") 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.
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(obsolete) Determined; resolved.
However I with thee have fixt my Lot, Certain to undergoe like doom[…]
1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 952–953:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most certain | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more certain | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| certeine | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| certainest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| certainer | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| certayne | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| certaine | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Antonyms
incidental (antonym(s) of “sure to happen”) · uncertain (antonym(s) of “not doubting”) · impossible (antonym(s) of “sure to happen”) · particular specific (antonym(s) of “known but not named”)
Deriveds
certain event · nothing is certain but death and taxes · certain as death or taxes · certain as death and taxes · certainness · make certain · certain person · for certain · certainly · certainty · noncertain · of a certain · of a certain age
Relateds
fated · intentional · irrefutable
Synonyms
unambiguous · one · doubtless · sure · unwavering · unequivocal · unavoidable (sure to happen) · positive · univocal · assured · wis · definite · one · clear · sicker · certain · confident
Translations (152)
cs nějaký (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · nl zeker (sure, positive, not doubting) · tr bazı (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ro sigur (sure, positive, not doubting) · bg някой си (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · es impepinable (Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact) · no sikker (sure, positive, not doubting) · ga deimhin (sure, positive, not doubting) · mk уверен (sure, positive, not doubting) · de gewiss (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · bg уве́рен (sure, positive, not doubting) · cmn 某 (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · fi yksi (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · cmn 肯定 (sure, positive, not doubting) · fur ciert (sure, positive, not doubting) · sl gotov (sure, positive, not doubting) · de sicher (sure, positive, not doubting) · zza emel (sure, positive, not doubting) · cmn 確切 /确切 (sure, positive, not doubting) · cmn 有的 (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · fur sigûr (sure, positive, not doubting) · ast ciertu (sure, positive, not doubting) · fr certain (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ar أَكِيد (sure, positive, not doubting) · cmn 一定 (sure, positive, not doubting) · sk istý (sure, positive, not doubting) · sh ùveren (sure, positive, not doubting) · pl niejaki (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · or ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ (sure, positive, not doubting) · mt ċert (sure, positive, not doubting) · ko 확실하다 (sure, positive, not doubting) · ar مُتَأَكِّد (sure, positive, not doubting) · ang gewiss (sure, positive, not doubting) · sw fulani (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · es (estar) cierto / certero (Sure to happen, inevitable; assured) · ru не́который (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · sc tzertu (sure, positive, not doubting) · bg си́гурен (sure, positive, not doubting) · tet tebes (sure, positive, not doubting) · zza qeta (sure, positive, not doubting) · uk пе́вний (sure, positive, not doubting) · vec çerto (sure, positive, not doubting) · ja ある (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · sc certu (sure, positive, not doubting) · tr emin (sure, positive, not doubting) · eo certa (in reference to a specific person or thing that the speaker does not want to name directly) · grc ἔμπεδος (sure, positive, not doubting) · io certa (sure, positive, not doubting) · goh giwis (sure, positive, not doubting) · pl jakiś (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · gd cinnteach (sure, positive, not doubting) · ja 某 (in reference to a specific person or thing that the speaker does not want to name directly) · it tale (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ccc akachelo'ta (sure, positive, not doubting) · fr quelconque (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · hu egyes (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · scn certu (sure, positive, not doubting) · no viss (sure, positive, not doubting) · be не́йкі (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · uk котри́йсь (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · sh си̏гӯран (sure, positive, not doubting) · la fidus (sure, positive, not doubting) · tr belli başlı (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ist sierto (sure, positive, not doubting) · ru определённый (sure, positive, not doubting) · ru како́й-то (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · de gewiss (sure, positive, not doubting) · hu bizonyos (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · sc tzeltu (sure, positive, not doubting) · grc τις (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · cs jistý (sure, positive, not doubting) · ko 특정 (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ru не́кий (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · hu biztos (sure, positive, not doubting) · it certo (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ja 定か (sure, positive, not doubting) · ko 어느 (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · yi זיכער (sure, positive, not doubting) · is öruggur (sure, positive, not doubting) · ja 確か (sure, positive, not doubting) · es cierto (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ar بَعْض (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · tr kesin (sure, positive, not doubting) · ja 特定の (sure, positive, not doubting) · el βέβαιος (sure, positive, not doubting) · ga dearfa (sure, positive, not doubting) · be які́сь (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · sh sȉgūran (sure, positive, not doubting) · bg някакъв (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · lld cërt (sure, positive, not doubting) · hu némely (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · es saberse (Sure to happen, inevitable; assured) · be які́сьці (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ka უეჭველი (sure, positive, not doubting) · hi निश्चित (sure, positive, not doubting) · fr certain (sure, positive, not doubting) · vi chắc chắn (sure, positive, not doubting) · de irgendein (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · az müəyyən (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · vec serto (sure, positive, not doubting) · nl zeker (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · km ជាក់លាក់ (sure, positive, not doubting) · fur positîv (sure, positive, not doubting) · yi געוויס (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · sh у̀верен (sure, positive, not doubting) · es ser una certeza / certidumbre / certitud (Sure to happen, inevitable; assured) · pt certo (sure, positive, not doubting) · zza delil (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · fi eräs (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · lld cert (sure, positive, not doubting) · az əmin (sure, positive, not doubting) · es (ser) cierto / certero (Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact) · uk де́який (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · uk яки́йсь (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · hy հաստատուն (sure, positive, not doubting) · be упэ́ўнены (sure, positive, not doubting) · gd deimhinne (sure, positive, not doubting) · sk nejaký (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · tr malum (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · be пэ́ўны (sure, positive, not doubting) · io certena (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · sh sȉgūran (sure, positive, not doubting) · uk упе́внений (sure, positive, not doubting) · hu egynémely (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ca cert (sure, positive, not doubting) · eo certa (sure, positive, not doubting) · da sikker (sure, positive, not doubting) · mk сигурен (sure, positive, not doubting) · ru уве́ренный (sure, positive, not doubting) · ja 一定 (sure, positive, not doubting) · ro cert (sure, positive, not doubting) · is viss (sure, positive, not doubting) · it certo (sure, positive, not doubting) · ro anume (sure, positive, not doubting) · hu egyfajta (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · vec certo (sure, positive, not doubting) · ka უდავო (sure, positive, not doubting) · nl bepaald (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · hu bizonyos (sure, positive, not doubting) · sv säker (sure, positive, not doubting) · la quīdam (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ca cert (not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite) · ga cinnte (sure, positive, not doubting) · es (estar) certero / cierto (sure, positive, not doubting) · pl pewny (sure, positive, not doubting) · oc cèrt (sure, positive, not doubting) · it sicuro (sure, positive, not doubting) · th แน่นอน (sure, positive, not doubting) · fi varma (sure, positive, not doubting) · mi taketake (sure, positive, not doubting) · pdt wess (sure, positive, not doubting) · la certus (sure, positive, not doubting)