uncertainness

C2+ Topic:Law & Government

US /ʌnˈsɜːrtənnəs/ UK /ʌnˈsɜːtənnəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the state of being unsure or doubtful; uncertainty

An air of uncertainness hung over the unannounced verdict.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the state of being unsure... uncertainty doubt doubtfulnessdubiousnessindecision ambiguity

Opposites

certainty sureness confidence assurance

Word family

Related forms uncertain certain uncertainty

Etymology

From uncertain + -ness. Certain descends from Old French certain, from Vulgar Latin *certanus, from Latin certus ('sure, fixed'), from cernere ('to distinguish, decide').

un- Old English certus Latin cernere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Law & Government Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# uncertainness

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈsɜːrtənnəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ʌnˈsɜːtənnəs/

## Meanings
1. the state of being unsure or doubtful; uncertainty

## Examples
- An air of uncertainness hung over the unannounced verdict.

## Synonyms
- uncertainty
- doubt
- doubtfulness
- dubiousness
- indecision
- ambiguity

## Antonyms
- certainty
- sureness
- confidence
- assurance

## Related Forms
- uncertain
- certain
- uncertainty

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: un-
- Root: certus
- Root: cernere

## Etymology
From uncertain + -ness. Certain descends from Old French certain, from Vulgar Latin *certanus, from Latin certus ('sure, fixed'), from cernere ('to distinguish, decide').

## AI Etymology
Uncertainness is from uncertain + -ness. Certain descends from Old French certain, from Vulgar Latin *certanus, from Latin certus ('sure, fixed'), from cernere ('to distinguish, decide'). Important recorded forms include un- (Old English), certus (Latin), and cernere (Latin). Morphologically, the un- element marks negation, reversal, removal, or deprivation, while the base supplies the action, quality, or state being denied or undone. The modern sense is largely compositional, with the historical elements narrowing into a stable English lexical item. In current use it covers the state of being unsure or doubtful; uncertainty. The wider family includes related words such as uncertain, certain, and uncertainty.

## Topics
- Law & Government
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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