certain
Sure in one's mind, positiveSure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.
» I am not certain about that.
Ich bin mir dessen nicht sicher.
Я в этом не уверен.
Насчет этого я не уверен.
Я щодо цього не певен.
Я щодо цього не певна.
Meaning
10 sensesSure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.
I was certain of my decision.
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.
established irrevocably
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.
Bankruptcy is the certain outcome of your constant gambling and lending.
gewiss, sicher
уве́ренныйuvérennyj, определённыйopredeljónnyj
упе́вненийupévnenyj, пе́внийpévnyj
Unfailing; infallible.
Fixed; regular; determinate.
at certain intervals
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.
Each morning, she would see a certain man rush past her window on his way to work.
(euphemistic)Used to denote that the speaker is referring to a specific person or thing that they do not want to name directly, implying that the listener should infer the identity of the referent.
I would have been here on time, but a certain someone lost the car keys!
Named but not previously mentioned.
Looking inside the cover, they learned that the book had once belonged to a certain R. Jones.
Used before the name of someone famous that people are expected to know.
Since the last British government to make such a proposal was that of a certain Margaret Thatcher, it might not seem unreasonable.
(obsolete)Determined; resolved.
Examples
1574 sentencesI am not certain about that.
Я щодо цього не певен. — deniko
ruЯ в этом не уверен. — marafon
deIch bin mir dessen nicht sicher. — User4473
I don't know for certain yet.
Я ще точно не знаю. — deniko
ruЯ пока точно не знаю. — marafon
I'm not certain Tom likes that.
Я не певен, що Тому це подобається. — deniko
ruЯ не уверен, что Тому это нравится. — marafon
Are you absolutely certain about this?
Ти у цьому абсолютно впевнений? — deniko
ruТы в этом абсолютно уверен? — marafon
deBist du dir dessen ganz sicher? — freddy1
Are you certain Tom didn't win?
Ти певен, що Том не переміг? — deniko
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a VuFrom 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”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
more certain/certainer, most certain/certainest| Comparative | more certain / certainer Lesson |
|---|---|
| Superlative | most certain / certainest Lesson |
regular
Synonyms
17 synonymsAntonyms
4 antonymsWord family
11 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A2Comparatives — Because it has a comparative form
- A2Superlatives — Because it has a superlative form
Collocations
12 patterns- fairly certain
- fairly certain that
- know for certain
- was certain that
- absolutely certain
- almost certain
- almost certain that
- for certain when
- absolutely certain that
- pretty certain
- quite certain
- certain that that's