Thesaurus: ascertain

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Definitions

1. v. t. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise.
2. v. t. To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine.
3. v. t. To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal.
4. v. establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
5. v. be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
6. v. find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
7. v. learn or discover with certainty
8. 1. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise. [Obs.] When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained. Jer. Taylor. Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects. Robertson. 2. To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine. [Archaic] The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth. Hooker. The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation. Jer. Taylor. The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers. Smollett. The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation. Gibbon. 3. To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal. He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable. Macaulay.
9. v:100 v. learn or discover with certainty