From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Ascertain \As`cer*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ascertained}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Ascertaining}.] [OF. acertener; a (L. ad) +
certain. See {Certain}.]
1. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to
make confident; to assure; to apprise. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained. --Jer.
Taylor.
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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.
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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]
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The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth.
--Hooker.
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The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase
and ascertain the condemnation. --Jer. Taylor.
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The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . .
persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers.
--Smollett.
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The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained
the rule and measure of taxation. --Gibbon.
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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.
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He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining
whether a descent on England was practicable.
--Macaulay.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
ascertain
v 1: establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment,
survey, or study; "find the product of two numbers"; "The
physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel
Prize" [syn: {determine}, {find}, {find out}, {ascertain}]
2: be careful or certain to do something; make certain of
something; "He verified that the valves were closed"; "See
that the curtains are closed"; "control the quality of the
product" [syn: {see}, {check}, {insure}, {see to it},
{ensure}, {control}, {ascertain}, {assure}]
3: find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by
making an inquiry or other effort; "I want to see whether she
speaks French"; "See whether it works"; "find out if he
speaks Russian"; "Check whether the train leaves on time"
[syn: {determine}, {check}, {find out}, {see}, {ascertain},
{watch}, {learn}]
4: learn or discover with certainty
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