certain

[sur-tn] /ˈsɜr tn/
adjective
1.
free from doubt or reservation; confident; sure:
I am certain he will come.
2.
destined; sure to happen (usually followed by an infinitive):
He is certain to be there.
3.
inevitable; bound to come:
They realized then that war was certain.
4.
established as true or sure; unquestionable; indisputable:
It is certain that he tried.
5.
fixed; agreed upon; settled:
on a certain day; for a certain amount.
6.
definite or particular, but not named or specified:
A certain person phoned. He had a certain charm.
7.
that may be depended on; trustworthy; unfailing; reliable:
His aim was certain.
8.
some though not much:
a certain reluctance.
9.
Obsolete, steadfast.
pronoun
10.
certain ones:
Certain of the members declined the invitation.
Idioms
11.
for certain, without a doubt; surely:
I know for certain that I have seen that face before.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English < Old French < Vulgar Latin *certānus, equivalent to Latin cert(us) sure, settled (cer- base of cernere to decide, + -tus past participle suffix) + -ānus -an
Synonyms
1. convinced, satisfied. See sure. 4. indubitable, incontestable, irrefutable, incontrovertible, obvious, plain, clear. 5. determined.
Examples from the web for certain
  • And yet there is a certain amount of credit-claiming going on that does muddy the waters.
  • When reality is changing faster than theory suggests it should, a certain amount of nervousness is a reasonable response.
  • Military discounts are not valid on all sailings and may be limited to a certain number of cabins.
  • There's a certain amount of crumbing that occurs anyway.
  • Some recipes call for a mixture to be reduced by a certain amount.
  • Because you need the precursors, a certain amount of intelligence to do language.
  • The theory is unorthodox, but it does make a certain amount of sense.
  • But it has also offered volunteers a certain amount of control over their destiny, because they could always resign if they chose.
  • One might expect a certain amount of scholarly rejoicing.
  • It is quite valid, interesting and shows realistic chances of getting certain disease for my genotype.
British Dictionary definitions for certain

certain

/ˈsɜːtən/
adjective
1.
(postpositive) positive and confident about the truth of something; convinced: I am certain that he wrote a book
2.
(usually postpositive) definitely known: it is certain that they were on the bus
3.
(usually postpositive) sure; bound; destined: he was certain to fail
4.
decided or settled upon; fixed: the date is already certain for the invasion
5.
unfailing; reliable: his judgment is certain
6.
moderate or minimum: to a certain extent
7.
make certain of, to ensure (that one will get something); confirm
adverb
8.
for certain, definitely; without a doubt: he will win for certain
determiner
9.
  1. known but not specified or named: certain people may doubt this
  2. (as pronoun; functioning as plural): certain of the members have not paid their subscriptions
10.
named but not known: he had written to a certain Mrs Smith
Word Origin
C13: from Old French, from Latin certus sure, fixed, from cernere to discern, decide
Word Origin and History for certain
adj.

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.

Idioms and Phrases with certain

certain

see: for certain