certain

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance

   be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through

2. 2
   adj

   reliable in operation or effect

   a quick and certain remedy

3. 3
   adj

   Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.

   I was certain of my decision.

4. 4
   adj

   Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.

   Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled.

5. 5
   adj

   Sure to happen, inevitable; assured.

   It is certain that Spain will reach the finals. / Spain is now certain to reach the finals. / Spain is now certain of a place in the finals.

6. 6
   adj

   Unfailing; infallible.

   I have often wished, that I knew so certain a remedy in any other disease

7. 7
   adj

   Fixed; regular; determinate.

   at certain intervals

8. 8
   adj

   Particular and definite, but unspecified or unnamed; used to introduce someone or something without going into further detail.

   Every wine has a certain distinctive character which sets it apart from all others.

Etymology

From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“fixed, resolved, certain”), of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere (“to separate, perceive, decide”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)) and alternative Middle English spelling sertane (“some, certain”).