ascertain

present singular third person ascertains · participle present ascertaining · participle past ascertained · past ascertained

1. transitiveTo find out definitely; to discover or establish.

   As soon as we ascertain what the situation is, we can plan how to proceed.

   3 more examples

   “There the cause of death was soon ascertained ; the victim of this daring outrage had been stabbed to death from ear to ear with a long, sharp instrument, in shape like an antique stiletto, which […] was subsequently found under the cushions of the hansom.[…]”

   1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Tremarn Case”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020

   Walk the dog in the pounding rain / Looking for a way out of my brain, trapped in it / But I cannot ascertain that I'm trapped in it / Or that the traps even real so I remain trapped in this chambers

   2023, “Split The Atom”, in Kae Tempest (lyrics), Nice Idea

   "[…] On the 18th of October, 1841, a very intense magnetic disturbance was recorded, and amongst other curious facts mentioned is that of the detention of the 10:05pm express train at Exeter for 16 minutes, as from the magnetic disturbance affecting the needles so powerfully, it was impossible to ascertain if the line was clear at Starcross. The superintendent at Exeter reported the next morning that someone was playing tricks with the instruments, and would not let them work."

   2023 November 15, Prof. Jim Wild, “This train was delayed because of bad weather in space”, in RAIL, number 996, page 30

   Synonyms: determine, discover, establish, find out, learn, work out, see, discern

2. obsoletetransitiveTo make (someone) certain or confident about something; to inform.

   We would most gladly ye came yourself if that ye may […] praying you to ascertain us of your News.

   1844 [1483], Caroline A. Halsted, quoting Richard III, chapter XV, in Richard III as Duke of Gloucester and King of England, page 307

   2 more examples

   Therfore the saide cõmissioners shall mowe say that nowe late during the parlement the King ascertaigned of the saide maliciouse pʳpose of his enemys, willed and desired the lords being then present to shewe their̃ good willes aide and helpe for the saide rescues[…]

   1436, Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, editor, Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England, volume IV, published 1835, page 352c

   Muncer Assured them, that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its success.

   1769, William Robertson, “The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V”, in George Gleig, editor, The Historical Works of William Robertson, volume V, Edinburgh: Doig & Stirling, published 1813, page 395

3. YorkshiredatedintransitiveTo look for something lost.
4. archaictransitiveTo establish, to prove.

   We must look somewhat deeper would we learn why a book which now tries our patience was not undeserving of those multiplied editions which have ascertained its popularity.

   1842, Isaac D'Israeli, “The Ship of Fools”, in Amenities of Literature: Consisting of Sketches and Characters of English Literature, volume I, Paris: Baudry, page 254

   2 more examples

   The two firſt lines of the following book ſeem to aſcertain the true meaning of the concluſion of this, and to prove ſufficiently that by Ωκεανός here, Homer could not poſſibly intend any other than a river.

   1791, William Cowper, Homer’s Odyssey, volume II, book XI, page 274 (footnote)

   In 1695 he [Walter Moyle] was chosen to represent the borough of Saltash in parliament ; a circumstance which ascertains the piece before us to have been written subsequent to that period.

   1800, Edward Malone, The Critical and Miscellaneous Prose Works of John Dryden, volume III, London: H. Baldwin and Son, page 382 (note 8)

5. archaictransitiveTo ensure or effect.

   The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority in the house of lords, persuaded the queen to take a measure which nothing but necessity could justify.

   1757–65, Tobias Smollet, chapter X, in The History of England from the Revolution to the Death of George II, volume II, London: Richardson & Co., published 1830, page 224

   2 more examples

   It is true, that no diligence can aſcertain ſucceſs ; death may intercept the ſwifteſt career ; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honeſt undertaking, has at leaſt the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he miſſed the victory.

   1751 June 29, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler, volume III, number 134, London: A. Millar et al., published 1761, page 155

   On the contrary, the Squire’s influence as a man of family and property, in the immediate neighbourhood, who actually kept greyhounds, and at least talked of hunters and races, ascertained him the support of the whole class of bucks, half and whole bred, from the three next counties ; and if more inducements were wanting, he could grant his favourites the privilege of shooting over his moors, which is enough to turn the head of a young Scotchman at any time.

   1824, Sir Walter Scott, “Administration”, in St. Ronan's Well, Boston: Samuel H. Parker, page 29