CERTAIN


Meaning of CERTAIN in English

I. ˈsər-t ə n adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin * certanus, from Latin certus, from past participle of cernere to sift, discern, decide; akin to Greek krinein to separate, decide, judge, Old Irish criathar sieve

Date: 13th century

1. : fixed , settled

a certain percentage of the profit

2. : of a specific but unspecified character, quantity, or degree

the house has a certain charm

3.

a. : dependable , reliable

a certain remedy for the disease

b. : known or proved to be true : indisputable

it is certain that we exist

4.

a. : inevitable

the certain advance of age

b. : incapable of failing : destined — used with a following infinitive

she is certain to do well

5. : assured in mind or action

I am certain they are right

Synonyms: see sure

- for certain

- of a certain age

II. pronoun, plural in construction

Date: 15th century

: certain ones

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.