certainty en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈsɝtn̩ti/ (General-American)
- /ˈsɜːtn̩ti/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English certeynte (“surety”), from Anglo-Norman certeinte, from Old French certeinete, from Vulgar Latin *certānitās, from Latin certus.
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) The state of being certain.
moral certainty
There is no certainty that the plan will succeed.
That there may be Certainty upon an infallible Evidence in Matters of Science, I readily grant you. But since there once were Scepticks in Philosophy as well as Religion, such as doubted of every thing, I very much question, whether the whole World be agreed in this Point; unless you could assure me, that Race of Seekers is now extinct.
1720, Samuel Fancourt, “The Remarker's second Objection produced and examined”, in An Essay Concerning Certainty and Infallibility: Or, Some Reflections Upon a Pamphlet Stiled, “The Nature and Consequences of Enthusiasm Considered, in Some Short Remarks on the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity Stated and Defended.” In a Letter to the Author of Those Remarks, London: R. Cruttenden, page 35:absolute certainty
with certainty
She spoke with complete certainty.
The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes.
October 12, 1786, Fisher Ames, “Lucius Junius Brutus”, in Independent Chronicle:
- (countable, uncountable) An instance of being certain.
-
(countable, uncountable) A fact or truth unquestionably established.
Certainties are uninteresting and sating.
1824, Walter Savage Landor, Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, volume I, London: […] Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC:There is a certainty attainable. A certainty of feeling will arise through the very contemplation of Jesus. But there is also attainable a certainty of Reason.
1895, Alexander Robinson, chapter XXI, in The Saviour in the Newer Light: A Present Day Study of Jesus Christ, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood & Sons, page 337:Yet the truth is that City would probably have been coasting by that point if the referee, Michael Oliver, had not turned down three separate penalties, at least two of which could be accurately described as certainties.
November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, “Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United”, in guardian.co.uk:"That's a possibility," Sturdevant answered with a flutter of the eyes, "but by no means a certainty."
2014, Richard Curtis, Death in the Crease, Open Road Media:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| certainity | India, alternative | lexicographic | |
| certainties | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
racing certainty · certainty equivalent · legal certainty · moral certainty · of a certainty · noncertainty
Relateds
Synonyms
certitude · fair bet · racing certainty · cinch · good bet · dead cert · safe bet · fatality · sureness · sure thing · surety · sure bet · certitude · cert · banker · inevitability · certainty
Translations (70)
got 𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌸𐍃 (state of being certain) · hu bizonyosság (state of being certain) · it certezza (state of being certain) · bg уве́реност (state of being certain) · pam kabitasan (state of being certain) · la certitūdō (state of being certain) · cmn 確信 /确信 (state of being certain) · sv säkerhet (state of being certain) · sl gotovost (state of being certain) · tl katiyakan (state of being certain) · et kindlus (state of being certain) · sh и̏звјесно̄ст (state of being certain) · lt tikrumas (state of being certain) · ca certesa (state of being certain) · lv noteiktība (state of being certain) · sh и̏звесно̄ст (state of being certain) · ga deimhin (state of being certain) · da sikkerhed (state of being certain) · ur یَقِین (state of being certain) · pl pewność (state of being certain) · ar يَقِين (state of being certain) · fr certitude (state of being certain) · gl certidume (state of being certain) · ga deimhne (state of being certain) · ja 確信 (state of being certain) · nl zekerheid (state of being certain) · de Gewissheit (state of being certain) · es certinidad (state of being certain) · uk впе́вненість (state of being certain) · nb visshet (state of being certain) · oc certesa (state of being certain) · ro siguranță (state of being certain) · sk istota (state of being certain) · hi निश्चितता (state of being certain) · ga dearfacht (state of being certain) · gl certeza (state of being certain) · hi यक़ीन (state of being certain) · sh ȉzvjesnōst (state of being certain) · ga cinnteacht (state of being certain) · es certeza (state of being certain) · uk пе́вність (state of being certain) · sv visshet (state of being certain) · mk сигурност (state of being certain) · be упэ́ўненасць (state of being certain) · fa یقین (state of being certain) · sh сигу́рно̄ст (state of being certain) · ga deimhneacht (state of being certain) · sh sigúrnōst (state of being certain) · nb sikkerhet (state of being certain) · ko 확신 (state of being certain) · be пэ́ўнасць (state of being certain) · gd cinnt (state of being certain) · ru уве́ренность (state of being certain) · fi varmuus (state of being certain) · tg яқин (state of being certain) · hi निश्चय (state of being certain) · pt certeza (state of being certain) · es certitud (state of being certain) · he וַדָּאוּת (state of being certain) · bg си́гурност (state of being certain) · eo certeco (state of being certain) · sh ȉzvesnōst (state of being certain) · hi सुनिश्चितता (state of being certain) · cs jistota (state of being certain) · ro certitudine (state of being certain) · la certum (state of being certain) · oc certitud (state of being certain) · el βεβαιότητα (state of being certain) · es certidumbre (state of being certain) · hi निश्चयात्मकता (state of being certain)