Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Certain
Cer′tain
,Adj.
[F.
certain
, fr. (assumed) LL. certanus
, fr. L. certus
determined, fixed, certain, orig. p. p. of cernere
to perceive, decide, determine; akin to Gr. [GREEK] to decide, separate, and to E. concern
, critic
, crime
, riddle
a sieve, rinse
, v.] 1.
Assured in mind; having no doubts; free from suspicions concerning.
To make her
certain
of the sad event. Dryden.
I myself am
certain
of you. Wyclif.
2.
Determined; resolved; – used with an infinitive.
However, I with thee have fixed my lot,
Certain
to undergo like doom. Milton.
3.
Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.
The dream is
certain
, and the interpretation thereof sure. Dan. ii. 45.
4.
Actually existing; sure to happen; inevitable.
Virtue that directs our ways
Through
Through
certain
dangers to uncertain praise. Dryden.
Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all.
Shakespeare
5.
Unfailing; infallible.
I have often wished that I knew as
certain
a remedy for any other distemper. Mead.
6.
Fixed or stated; regular; determinate.
The people go out and gather a
certain
rate every day. Ex. xvi. 4.
7.
Not specifically named; indeterminate; indefinite; one or some; – sometimes used independenty as a noun, and meaning certain persons.
It came to pass when he was in a
certain
city. Luke. v. 12.
About everything he wrote there was a
certain
natural grace und decorum. Macaulay.
Syn. – Bound; sure; true; undeniable; unquestionable; undoubted; plain; indubitable; indisputable; incontrovertible; unhesitating; undoubting; fixed; stated.
Cer′tain
,Noun.
1.
Certainty.
[Obs.]
Gower.
2.
A certain number or quantity.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
Cer′tain
,adv.
Certainly.
[Obs.]
Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Certain
CERTAIN
, a.1.
Sure; true; undoubted; unquestionable; that cannot be denied; existing in fact and truth.The dream is certain and the interpretation sure. Dan. 2.
2.
Assured in mind; having no doubts; followed by of, before a noun.However I with thee have fixed my lot,
Certain to undergo like doom of death,
Consort with thee.
To make her certain of the sad event.
3.
Unfailing; always producing the intended effect; as, we may have a certain remedy for a disease.4.
Not doubtful or casual; really existing.Virtue that directs our ways
Through certain dangers to uncertain praise.
5.
Stated; fixed; determinate; regular.Ye shall gather a certain rate every day. Ex. 16.
6.
Particular.There came a certain poor widow. Mark 12.
In the plural number, a particular part or number; some; an indefinite part, number, or quantity. Hanani came, he and certain men of Judah. I mourned certain days. Neh. 1. 2. 6.
In the latter sense, it is used as a noun; as, certain also of your own poets have said. Acts 17.