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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary as·cer·tain \\ˌa-sər-ˈtān\\ transitive verb ETYMOLOGY Middle English acertainen to inform, give assurance to, from Anglo-French acerteiner, from a- (from Latin ad-) + certein, certain certain
DATE 15th century
1. archaic : to make certain, exact, or precise 2. to find out or learn with certaintySynonyms: see discover • as·cer·tain·able \\-ˈtā-nə-bəl\\ adjective• as·cer·tain·ment \\-ˈtān-mənt\\ noun
ascertain early 15 c., "to inform, to give assurance," from O.Fr
http://O.Fr . acertener "to assure" (13 c.), from a "to" + certain "certain" (see certain). Modern meaning of "to find out for sure by experiment or investigation" is first attested 1794.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ascertain
as·cer·tain / 7AsE5tein; NAmE 7AsEr5t- / verb (formal)to find out the true or correct information about sth
查明；弄清:
▪ [VN]
It can be difficult to ascertain the facts.
可能难以查明事实真相。
▪ [V that]
I ascertained that the driver was not badly hurt.
我已查清,驾驶员伤势不重。
▪ [VN that]
It should be ascertained that the plans comply with the law.
须要弄清楚,这些计划要合法。
▪ [V wh-]
The police are trying to ascertain what really happened.
警方正设法查清到底发生了什么。
Could you ascertain whether she will be coming to the meeting?
请你弄清楚她来不来开会好吗？
▪ [VN wh-]
It must be ascertained if the land is still owned by the government.
必须确定这块土地是否仍属于政府所有。
• as·cer·tain·able / 7AsE5teinEbl; NAmE 7AsEr5t- / adj.
• as·cer·tain·ment / 7AsE5teinmEnt; NAmE 7AsEr5t- / noun [U]
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged as·cer·tain\|asə(r)|tān, ˌaas-\ transitive verb( -ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English acertainen, from Middle French acertainer, acertener, from Old French acertener, from a- (from Latin ad-) + -certener (from certain) — more at certain 1. a. obsolete : to make (a person) certain, sure, or confident : assure < but how shall I be ascertained that I also shall be entertained — John Bunyan > b. archaic : to make (a thing) certain : establish as a certainty : determine with certainty < but who shall exactly ascertain to us what superstition is — George Horne †1792 > c. obsolete : to make certain the possession of : secure < no diligence can ascertain success — Samuel Johnson > d. obsolete : to bring or deliver (a person) certainly : destine < would ascertain us into a possession of all the promises — Jeremy Taylor > e. archaic : to make (a thing) certain, exact, or precise : settle , fix < some effectual method for correcting, enlarging, and ascertaining our language — Jonathan Swift >2. : to find out or learn for a certainty (as by examination or investigation) : make sure of : discover < a sensitive instrument for ascertaining the people's ideas and wishes — A.R.Williams > < had ascertained … that his son-in-law was among the living prisoners — Charles Dickens >Synonyms: see discover
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