Ascertain

As·cer·tain

Ascertain

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Ascertained; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascertaining

  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.
    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.
  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.
    The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation.
    The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers.
    The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation.
  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.