certain

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This certain is a new-look lineup against Toronto left-hander David Purcey.

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Definitions (38)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (13)

  1. adjective Definite; fixed: set aside a certain sum each week.
  2. adjective Sure to come or happen; inevitable: certain success.
  3. adjective Established beyond doubt or question; indisputable: What is certain is that every effect must have a cause.
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Examples (50)

  • Some time ago, I wrote a couple articles over at The Webcomics Examiner in which I tagged a certain type of webcomic with the label "the new cute" —  COMIXTALK
  • This certain is a new-look lineup against Toronto left-hander David Purcey. —  Texas Rangers
  • Richard Darke--certain, as if the crack of the gun had been a voice pronouncing the name Clancy's eyes, flashing angrily, interrogate the forest. —  The Death Shot A Story Retold
  • Why, then, his fate was certain--certain and inexpressibly horrible. —  The Sign of the Spider
  • The Court is adjourned without day I have always supposed that Colonel Morgan himself took the proceedings of the court to Washington city, and explained them to Mr. Jefferson. Certain it is that the President approved them,--certain, that is, if I may believe the men who say they have seen his signature. —  The Man Without a Country
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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *certānus, from Latin certus, past participle of cernere, to determine; see krei- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Early modern English also certayn, certen, from Middle English certain, -tayn, certein, -teyn, -ten, etc., from Old French certain, certein, French certain = Provencal certan = Old Spanish Italian certano, from Middle Latin *certanus, extended form of Latin certus (later Spanish cierto = Portuguese certo = Provencal cert = Old French cert: see cert, certes), fixed, determined, of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere, separate, perceive, decide, = Greek κρίνειν, separate, decide, akin to Icelandic skilja, separate: see skill. From the same Latin source come also ascertain, concern, decern, decree, discern; from the Greek, critic, diacritic, etc.
  2. from Middle English certain, -tayn, etc., adjective as adverb
 

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/ˈsərtən/
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