v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ascertained p. pr. & vb. n. Ascertaining. ] [ OF. acertener; a (L. ad) + certain. See Certain. ] 1. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

The very deferring [ of his execution ] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers. Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be ascertained. -- As`cer*tain"a*ble*ness, n. -- As`cer*tain"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who ascertains. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery. [ 1913 Webster ]

The positive ascertainment of its limits. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. certain, fr. (assumed) LL. certanus, fr. L. certus determined, fixed, certain, orig. p. p. of cernere to perceive, decide, determine; akin to Gr. &unr_; 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make her certain of the sad event. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

I myself am certain of you. Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Determined; resolved; -- used with an infinitive. [ 1913 Webster ]

However, I with thee have fixed my lot,
Certain to undergo like doom. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. Dan. ii. 45. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Actually existing; sure to happen; inevitable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtue that directs our ways
Through certain dangers to uncertain praise. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Unfailing; infallible. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have often wished that I knew as certain a remedy for any other distemper. Mead. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Fixed or stated; regular; determinate. [ 1913 Webster ]

The people go out and gather a certain rate every day. Ex. xvi. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Not specifically named; indeterminate; indefinite; one or some; -- sometimes used independenty as a noun, and meaning certain persons. [ 1913 Webster ]

It came to pass when he was in a certain city. Luke. v. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

About everything he wrote there was a certain natural grace und decorum. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

For certain, assuredly. --
Of a certain, certainly.

Syn. -- Bound; sure; true; undeniable; unquestionable; undoubted; plain; indubitable; indisputable; incontrovertible; unhesitating; undoubting; fixed; stated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Certainty. [ Obs. ] Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A certain number or quantity. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Certainly. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without doubt or question; unquestionably. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Certainty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Certainties [ OF. certaineté. ] 1. The quality, state, or condition, of being certain. [ 1913 Webster ]

The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes. Fisher Ames. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fact or truth unquestionable established. [ 1913 Webster ]

Certainties are uninteresting and sating. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Clearness; freedom from ambiguity; lucidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of a certainty, certainly. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ F. certes, for à certes, fr. L. certus. See Certain. ] Certainly; in truth; verily. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Certes it great pity was to see
Him his nobility so foul deface. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a natural family of birds cosisting of several species of creepers, such as Certhia americana, the tree creeper.
Syn. -- family Certhiidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. presenting symptoms of mental illness sufficient for legal commitment to a mental institution.
Syn. -- certified. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. capable of being guaranteed or certified: a certifiable fact. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. certificat, fr. LL. certificatus made certain, p. p. of certificare. See tify. ] 1. A written testimony to the truth of any fact; as, certificate of good behavior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A written declaration legally authenticated. [ 1913 Webster ]

Trial by certificate, a trial which the testimony of the person certifying is the only proper criterion of the point in dispute; as, when the issue is whether a person was absent in the army, this is tried by the certificate of the proper officer in writing, under his seal. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Certificated; p. pr. & vb. n. Certificating. ] [ See Certify. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To verify or vouch for by certificate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To furnish with a certificate; as, to certificate the captain of a vessel; a certificated teacher. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. officially documented; -- of people.
Syn. -- credentialed, documented. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. certificatio: cf. F. certification. ] The act of certifying. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. endorsed authoritatively as having met certain requirements; guranteed; as, certified milk; certified mail; a certified check. Opposite of uncertified. [ Narrower terms: certificated, credentialed, documented; guaranteed ] See also certifiable. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. legally insane according to clinical criteria.
Syn. -- certifiable. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

3. holding appropriate documentation and officially on record as qualified to perform a specified function or practice a specified skill.
Syn. -- qualified. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a check drawn on a bank and bearing marks from that bank guaranteeing that funds have been reserved for payment. [ PJC ]

n. One who certifies or assures. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Certified p. pr. & vb. n. Certifying. ] [ F. certifier, LL. certificare; L. certus certain + facere to make. See Certain, and cf. Certificate, v. t. ] 1. To give cetain information to; to assure; to make certain. [ 1913 Webster ]

We certify the king, that . . . thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. Ezra iv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give certain information of; to make certain, as a fact; to verify. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

The industry of science at once certifies and greatly extends our knowledge of the vastness of the creation. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To testify to in writing; to make a declaration concerning, in writing, under hand, or hand and seal. [ 1913 Webster ]

The judges shall certify their opinion to the chancellor, and upon such certificate the decree is usually founded. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Certified check, A bank check, the validity of which is certified by the bank on which it is drawn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So named from the emphatic word certiorari in the Latin form of the writ, which read certiorar volumus we wish to be certified. ] (Law) A writ issuing out of chancery, or a superior court, to call up the records of a inferior court, or remove a cause there depending, in order that the party may have more sure and speedy justice, or that errors and irregularities may be corrected. It is obtained upon complaint of a party that he has not received justice, or can not have an impartial trial in the inferior court. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A certiorari is the correct process to remove the proceedings of a court in which cases are tried in a manner different from the course of the common law, as of county commissioners. It is also used as an auxiliary process in order to obtain a full return to some other process. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. certitudo, fr. L. certus: cf. F. certitude. See Certain. ] Freedom from doubt; assurance; certainty. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Concerted; p. pr. & vb. n. Concerting. ] [ F. concerter, It. concertare, conertare, prob. from L. consertus, p. p. of conserere to join together; con- + serere to join together, influenced by concertare to contend; con- + centare to strive; properly, to try to decide; fr. cernere to distinguish. See Series, and cf. Concern. ] 1. To plan together; to settle or adjust by conference, agreement, or consultation. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was concerted to begin the siege in March. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To plan; to devise; to arrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

A commander had more trouble to concert his defense before the people than to plan . . . the campaign. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To act in harmony or conjunction; to form combined plans. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ministers of Denmark were appointed to concert with Talbot. Bp. Burnet [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. concert, It. concerto, conserto, fr. concertare. See Concert, v. t. ] 1. Agreement in a design or plan; union formed by mutual communication of opinions and views; accordance in a scheme; harmony; simultaneous action. [ 1913 Webster ]

All these discontents, how ruinous soever, have arisen from the want of a due communication and concert. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Musical accordance or harmony; concord. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let us in concert to the season sing. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A musical entertainment in which several voices or instruments take part. [ 1913 Webster ]

Visit by night your lady's chamber window
With some sweet concert. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And boding screech owls make the concert full. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Concert pitch. See under Pitch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It., orig p. pr. of concertare to form or perform a concert. See Concert. ] (Mus.) A concert for two or more principal instruments, with orchestral accompaniment. Also adjectively; as, concertante parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. concertatio. ] Strife; contention. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. concertativus. ] Contentious; quarrelsome. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Mutually contrived or planned; agreed on; as, concerted schemes, signals. [ 1913 Webster ]

Concerted piece (Mus.), a composition in parts for several voices or instrument, as a trio, a quartet, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From It. concerto a concert. ] A small musical instrument on the principle of the accordion. It is a small elastic box, or bellows, having free reeds on the inside, and keys and handles on the outside of each of the two hexagonal heads. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Concertina. ] (Mus.) A piece for one or more solo instruments with orchestra; -- more concise than the concerto. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act of concerting; adjustment. [ R. ] Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ G. ] (Mus.) The head violinist or leader of the strings in an orchestra; the sub-leader of the orchestra; concert master. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Concertos [ It. See Concert, n. ] (Mus.) A composition (usually in symphonic form with three movements) in which one instrument (or two or three) stands out in bold relief against the orchestra, or accompaniment, so as to display its qualities or the performer's skill. [ 1913 Webster ]

. An agreement or understanding between the chief European powers, the United States, and Japan in 1900 to take only joint action in the Chinese aspect of the Eastern Question. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ L. decertatio, fr. decertare, decertatum; de- + certare to contend. ] Contest for mastery; contention; strife. [ R. ] Arnway. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disconcerted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disconcerting. ] [ Pref. dis- + concert: cf. OF. desconcerter, F. déconcerter. ] 1. To break up the harmonious progress of; to throw into disorder or confusion; as, the emperor disconcerted the plans of his enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To confuse the faculties of; to disturb the composure of; to discompose; to abash. [ 1913 Webster ]

The embrace disconcerted the daughter-in-law somewhat, as the caresses of old gentlemen unshorn and perfumed with tobacco might well do. Thackeray.

Syn. -- To discompose; derange; ruffle; confuse; disturb; defeat; frustrate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Want of concert; disagreement. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. hard to deal with; causing uncertainty or confusion about how to act or react.
Syn. -- awkward, embarrassing, off-putting, sticky, tight, unenviable. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The act of disconcerting, or state of being disconcerted; discomposure; perturbation. [ R. ] State Trials (1794). [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or }. An agreement or understanding between the chief European powers to take only joint action in the (European) Eastern Question. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Pref. in- not + certain: cf. F. incertain, L. incertus. See Certain. ] Uncertain; doubtful; unsteady. -- In*cer"tain*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Very questionable and of uncertain truth. Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

n. Uncertainty. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. incertitude, LL. incertitudo, fr. L. incertus. See Incertain. ] Uncertainty; doubtfulness; doubt. [ 1913 Webster ]

The incertitude and instability of this life. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

He fails . . . from mere incertitude or irresolution. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. Doubtful; not of definite form. [ 1913 Webster ]

Opus incertum (Anc. Arch.), a kind of masonry employed in building walls, in which the stones were not squared nor laid in courses; rubblework. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. lacerte. See Lacertus. ] A muscle of the human body. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. lacertus the arm. ] A fathom. [ Obs. ] Domesday Book. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. a lizard. See Lizard. ] 1. (Zool.) A genus of lizards. See Lizard. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Formerly it included nearly all the known lizards. It is now restricted to certain diurnal Old World species, like the green lizard (Lacerta viridis) and the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), of Europe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron.) The Lizard, a northern constellation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. lacertien. ] (Zool.) Like a lizard; of or pertaining to the Lacertilia. -- n. One of the Lacertilia. [ 1913 Webster ]