01 v. t. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise.
imp. & p. p.
Ascertained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Ascertaining
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1.
To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise.[Obs.]“When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained.” — Jer. Taylor.“Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects.” — Robertson.
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2.
To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine.[Archaic]“The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth.” — Hooker.“The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation.” — Jer. Taylor.“The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers.” — Smollett.“The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation.” — Gibbon.
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3.
To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal.“He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable.” — Macaulay.