certain

adjconfident
adjundoubtable, valid
adjfixed
adjreferring to a specifically known amount

Synonyms for certain

adj confident

Antonyms for certain

Word Origin & History

c.1300, "determined, fixed," from Old French certain "reliable, sure, assured" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *certanus, from Latin certus "sure, fixed, settled, determined" (also source of Italian certo, Spanish cierto), originally a variant past participle of cernere "to distinguish, decide," literally "to sift, separate" (see crisis).

Of persons, "full of confidence in one's knowledge or judgment," from mid-14c. Euphemistic use (of a certain age, etc.) attested from mid-18c. Certainer, certainest were common to c.1750, but have fallen from proper use for some reason. Expression for certain "assuredly" is attested by early 14c.

Example Sentences forcertain

After all, there are certain things that you can't tell in too few words.

Youth is prone to endow its opinions with all the dignity of certain knowledge.

Certain faculties develop in response to the pressure of environment.

But its prisoners were not exempt from its heat, like certain holy ones of old.

So certain was he as to the exact locality, that he offered to conduct a party to the place.

Her girlhood had in it a certain dignity as of a virgin priestess or sibyl.

Often it happened that certain farmers could not pay their tax.

Evidences of heavy rainfall at certain times to be seen everywhere.

They replied, without hesitation, that they were certain of it; that they could not be deceived.

They have confederated together for certain specified objects.

certain

Synonyms for certain

Antonyms for certain

actual

anticipated

approved

assertive

assured

certain

Synonyms for certain

Antonyms for certain

More words related to certain

accurate

actual

anticipated

approved

assertive

assured