ascertain
ascertain
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling of "ascertain" (British English)
IPA: /ˌæsəˈteɪn/
Breakdown by Syllable:
as (ˌæs)
/ˌ/: Alveolar tap (short tongue touch on the alveolar ridge)
/æs/: Short "a" sound (like in "cat") combined with "e" sound (like in "bed")
cer (sə)
/sə/: Schwa sound (a neutral, central vowel sound)
tain (ˈteɪn)
/ˈ/: Primary stress on the syllable
/teɪ/: "ei" sound like in "day"
/n/: Alveolar nasal (like the "n" in "no")
Word Form Variations
"Ascertain" itself doesn't have variations based on singular or plural. It's a verb, and verbs don't conjugate for number (singular/plural) in English.
However, "ascertain" does have some related word forms:
Present participle: ascertaining (used for ongoing actions, e.g. "I am ascertaining the facts.")
Past participle: ascertained (used for completed actions, e.g. "The cause of the fire was never ascertained.")
Adjective: ascertainable (meaning "able to be found out")
Noun: ascertainment (the act of finding out something)
There are also some less common variations:
Pre-ascertain (verb, meaning to find out something beforehand)
Non-ascertainable (adjective, meaning "unable to be found out")
Unascertainable (adjective, similar to non-ascertainable)
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Verb:
Definition: To find out or learn something with certainty, often through investigation or research.
Synonyms: determine, discover, learn definitively, establish, uncover, verify, confirm
Antonyms: be unsure of, remain unclear, be in doubt, be uncertain about
Adjective:
Definition: Able to be found out with certainty.
Synonyms: determinable, discoverable, learnable definitively, verifiable, confirmable
Antonyms: unidentifiable, unknowable, undeterminable, unclear
Noun:
Definition: The act of finding out something with certainty, often through investigation or research.
Synonyms: determination, discovery, definitive learning, verification, confirmation
Antonyms: uncertainty, lack of clarification, doubt
Examples of Use
1. Book:
"Holmes closed his eyes for a moment, and then, opening them, with a smile which was evidently not intended for publication, he said: 'What we have to do, Watson, is to ascertain the exact amount of truth which lies at the bottom of this singular story'" (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band).
2. Newspaper:
"The police are working to ascertain the cause of the fire that ripped through a downtown apartment building last night. No injuries were reported" (The New York Times, [hypothetical news article]).
3. Online Publication:
"Scientists are using cutting-edge technology to ascertain the effects of climate change on coral reefs around the world" (National Geographic website, [hypothetical article]).
4. Entertainment Media:
Movie: In a detective film, the protagonist might say, "I need to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing witness."
TV Show: On a medical drama, a doctor might say, "We need to run some tests to ascertain the cause of the patient's symptoms."
5. Public Discourse:
"During a political debate, a candidate might say, 'Our priority is to ascertain the needs of the people and create policies that address them.'"
Social Media: "A social media post might ask, 'How can we ascertain the truth in a world of fake news?'"
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Ascertain
While "ascertain" is a well-understood word, it's not as common in everyday speech or famous quotes compared to simpler synonyms. Finding ten famous quotes directly using "ascertain" might be difficult. However, here are some quotes that capture the essence of finding out something definitively:
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates (This quote emphasises the ongoing quest for knowledge)
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." - Voltaire (Similar to the above, it highlights the importance of questioning)
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." - Albert Einstein (This quote emphasises the continuous search for understanding)
"It is the chiefest business of the historian to search out the truth." - Herodotus (This quote highlights the historian's role in uncovering facts)
"Science is a way of thinking more than it is a body of knowledge." - Carl Sagan (This quote emphasises the investigative process in science)
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." - Benjamin Disraeli (This quote highlights the importance of verifying information)
"Seeing is believing, but feeling is the truth." - Anton Chekhov (This quote highlights that truth can come from various sources, not just sight)
"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." - Neil Armstrong (This quote emphasises the act of definitively achieving a goal)
"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates (This quote highlights the importance of seeking self-knowledge)
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..." - U.S. Declaration of Independence (This quote emphasises the pursuit of establishing fundamental truths)
While these quotes don't directly use "ascertain," they capture the essence of the word's meaning - the pursuit of knowledge and truth.
Etymology
The word "ascertain" is like a detective putting the pieces together to solve a case. It comes from the French word "accertain," which means "to make certain."
The earliest known use of "ascertain" in English showed up around the 1400s in a translation by William Caxton, a famous printer. Back then, it could also be used as an adjective, but that usage faded away.
So, "ascertain" basically took the French idea of "making certain" and brought it into English, morphing into the verb we use today to find things out for sure!
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Ascertain
While there aren't many common idioms directly using "ascertain," here are some phrases that incorporate the word and capture its essence:
Ascertain the facts: This means to gather information and establish what truly happened in a situation.
Leave no stone unturned: This idiom emphasises a thorough investigation, ensuring all possibilities are explored to ascertain the truth.
Get to the bottom of something: This means to uncover the root cause or hidden details of a situation, similar to ascertaining the truth.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt: This phrase indicates absolute certainty, implying something has been ascertained definitively.
Separate fact from fiction: This means to distinguish between truth and falsehood, similar to the act of ascertaining the real story.
These phrases showcase how "ascertain" can be used in different contexts to emphasise the process of finding something out for sure.
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Source Information
Definition of ascertain from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
