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certain Definition

cer·tain (sʉrt′'n)

adjective

  1. fixed, settled, or determined
  2. sure (to happen, etc.); inevitable
  3. not to be doubted; unquestionable certain evidence
  4. not failing; reliable; dependable a certain cure
  5. controlled; unerring his certain aim
  6. without any doubt; assured; sure; positive certain of his innocence
  7. not named or described, though definite and perhaps known a certain person
  8. some, but not very much; appreciable to a certain extent

Etymology: ME & OFr < VL *certanus < L certus, determined, fixed, orig. pp. of cernere, to distinguish, decide, orig., to sift, separate: see harvest

a certain indefinite number; certain ones (of) certain of these authors are seldom read

certain Idioms

for certain

as a certainty; without doubt

of a certain age

of an unspecified age, but no longer young: usually said of women

certain Synonyms

certain

modif.

  1. Confident

    assured, sure, positive, questionless, satisfied, self-confident, undoubting, unwavering, believing, secure, untroubled, unconcerned, undisturbed, unperturbed, convinced, assertive, cocksure; see also calm 1, confident 2.

  2. Sure

    destined, determined, predestined; see inevitable.

  3. Beyond doubt

    indisputable, unquestionable, assured, positive, real, true, genuine, plain, clear, undoubted, indubitable, guaranteed, unmistakable, unassailable, sure, incontrovertible, undeniable, definite, supreme, unqualified, infallible, undisputed, unerring, sound, reliable, trustworthy, evident, conclusive, decisive, unambiguous, authoritative, irrefutable, unconditional, incontestable, unquestioned, absolute, unequivocal, inescapable, in the bag*, on ice*; see also accurate 1.

    Antonyms doubtful, uncertain, dubious.

  4. Dependable

    trustworthy, safe, sound; see reliable 2.

  5. Fixed

    settled, concluded, set, agreed upon; see definite 1, determined 1.

  6. Specific but not named

    special, marked, specified, defined, one, some, a few, a couple, several, appreciable, upwards of, regular, particular, singular, especial, precise, specific, express; see also definite 1, individual 1, special 1.

certain usually suggests conviction based on specific grounds or evidence this letter makes me certain of his innocence; suresuggests merely an absence of doubt or hesitancy I'm sure you don't mean it; confident stresses the firmness of one's certainty or sureness, esp. in some expectation she's confident she'll win; positive suggests unshakable confidence, esp. in the correctness of one's opinions or conclusions, sometimes to the point of dogmatism he's too positive in his beliefs

be certain

be sure, have confidence, feel sure, be confident, have no doubt, make certain; see also know 1.

for certain

without doubt, absolutely, certainly; see surely.

certain Usage Examples

Preposition: that

  • everyone: I know that I felt absolutely shattered, and I am certain that everyone on the other ships must have felt the same.

Modifies a noun

  • circumstance: A director of a company may in certain circumstances be made liable for the debts of the company of which he is a director.
  • amount: A certain amount of coercion or healthy bribery may be needed to practice!
  • type: You also have an idea about whether you like certain types of work.
  • extent: It was thought to be tempting fate to a certain extent.
  • aspect: Did you need to modify certain aspects of your design?
  • condition: Visual corruption of lowest pixel line of map under certain display conditions is fixed.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: The answer to the first question will almost certain l y be yes.
  • fairly: I'm fairly certain, I know the exact date and time.
  • however: There are however certain jobs where good binocular vision is important and necessary.
  • only: Answer Only certain groups of people are eligible for travel concessions.

Infinitive complement

  • provoke: It is certain to provoke debate and discussion, not least about how and why certain films enter the nation's consciousness.
  • continue: Development of technology for disposal of irradiated fuel elements is almost certain to continue on an international basis.
  • win: I urged Rhodri to stand down because I was convinced that Ron was certain to win.
  • encounter: Unless you do so, you will be certain to encounter trifling and procrastination which will defer your plan to the Greek Kalends.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: DO YOU THINK COMING HERE WILL HELP YOU NOT TO BE UNHAPPY I need some help, that much seems certain.
  • feel: Somehow I feel certain that the address at which I lived at the time of the Bath Blitz was 2 Midland Bridge Road.
  • look: Today the continued supply of wonders looks less certain.
  • make: I made certain that all the configuration files were properly tweaked for his particular computer.

Preposition: of

  • victory: We are certain of victory once again this year Im sure!
certain Quotes

Certum est quia impossibile est. It is certain because it is impossible.

—Tertullian full name  Quintus SeptimiusFlorensTertullianus

Delegimus certum otium studiorum, quam incertum negotium bellorum. We have opted for the certain leisure of study, rather than the uncertain business of war.

—Gerbert later Pope Sylvester II

Sincerity is all that counts is a widespread modern heresy. Think again. Bolsheviks are sincere. Fascists are sincere.Lunaticsaresincere.Peoplewho believethatthe earth is flat are sincere. They can't all be right. Better Sir Martin Mar-All make certain first that you have something to be sincere about, and with.

—Bradwell

As faras the laws of mathematics refer to reality, theyare not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.

—Einstein, Albert

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. See Defoe 258:25.

—Frank, Anne

Earth cares for her own ruins, naught for ours. Nothing is certain, only the certain spring.

—Binyon, (Robert) Laurence