4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Certain  \Cer"tain\,  a.  [F.  certain,  fr  (assumed)  LL  certanus 
  fr  L.  certus  determined,  fixed,  certain,  orig.  p.  p.  of 
  cernere  to  perceive,  decide,  determine;  akin  to  Gr  ?  to 
  decide,  separate,  and  to  E.  concern,  critic,  crime,  riddle  a 
  sieve,  rinse,  v.] 
  1.  Assured  in  mind;  having  no  doubts;  free  from  suspicions 
  concerning. 
 
  To  make  her  certain  of  the  sad  event.  --Dryden. 
 
  I  myself  am  certain  of  you  --Wyclif. 
 
  2.  Determined;  resolved;  --  used  with  an  infinitive. 
 
  However,  I  with  thee  have  fixed  my  lot  Certain  to 
  undergo  like  doom.  --Milton. 
 
  3.  Not  to  be  doubted  or  denied;  established  as  a  fact 
 
  The  dream  is  certain,  and  the  interpretation  thereof 
  sure  --Dan.  ii  45. 
 
  4.  Actually  existing;  sure  to  happen;  inevitable. 
 
  Virtue  that  directs  our  ways  Through  certain  dangers 
  to  uncertain  praise.  --Dryden. 
 
  Death,  as  the  Psalmist  saith,  is  certain  to  all 
  --Shak. 
 
  5.  Unfailing;  infallible. 
 
  I  have  often  wished  that  I  knew  as  certain  a  remedy 
  for  any  other  distemper.  --Mead. 
 
  6.  Fixed  or  stated;  regular;  determinate. 
 
  The  people  go  out  and  gather  a  certain  rate  every 
  day  --Ex.  xvi.  4. 
 
  7.  Not  specifically  named  indeterminate;  indefinite;  one  or 
  some  --  sometimes  used  independenty  as  a  noun  and 
  meaning  certain  persons. 
 
  It  came  to  pass  when  he  was  in  a  certain  city. 
  --Luke.  v.  12. 
 
  About  everything  he  wrote  there  was  a  certain 
  natural  grace  und  decorum.  --Macaulay. 
 
  {For  certain},  assuredly. 
 
  {Of  a  certain},  certainly. 
 
  Syn:  Bound;  sure  true;  undeniable;  unquestionable; 
  undoubted;  plain;  indubitable;  indisputable; 
  incontrovertible;  unhesitating;  undoubting  fixed; 
  stated. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Certain  \Cer"tain\,  n. 
  1.  Certainty.  [Obs.]  --Gower. 
 
  2.  A  certain  number  or  quantity.  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Certain  \Cer"tain\,  adv 
  Certainly.  [Obs.]  --Milton. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  certain 
  adj  1:  definite  but  not  specified  or  identified;  "set  aside  a 
  certain  sum  each  week";  "to  a  certain  degree"; 
  "certain  breeds  do  not  make  good  pets";  "certain 
  members  have  not  paid  their  dues";  "a  certain  popular 
  teacher";  "a  certain  Mrs.  Jones"  [syn:  {certain(a)}] 
  2:  having  or  feeling  no  doubt  or  uncertainty;  confident  and 
  assured;  "felt  certain  of  success";  "was  sure  (or  certain) 
  she  had  seen  it";  "was  very  sure  in  his  beliefs";  "sure  of 
  her  friends"  [syn:  {certain(p)},  {sure}]  [ant:  {uncertain}, 
  {uncertain}] 
  3:  established  beyond  doubt  or  question;  definitely  known 
  "what  is  certain  is  that  every  effect  must  have  a  cause"; 
  "it  is  certain  that  they  were  on  the  bus";  "his  fate  is 
  certain";  "the  date  for  the  invasion  is  certain"  [syn:  {certain(p)}] 
  [ant:  {uncertain}] 
  4:  certain  to  occur;  destined  or  inevitable;  "he  was  certain  to 
  fail";  "his  fate  is  certain";  "In  this  life  nothing  is 
  certain  but  death  and  taxes"-  Benjamin  Franklin;  "he  faced 
  certain  death";  "sudden  but  sure  regret";  "he  is  sure  to 
  win"  [syn:  {sure}]  [ant:  {uncertain}] 
  5:  established  irrevocably;  "his  fate  is  sealed"  [syn:  {sealed}] 
  [ant:  {unsealed}] 
  6:  capable  of  being  depended  on  "a  quick  and  certain  remedy"; 
  "a  sure  way  to  distinguish  the  two";  "wood  dust  is  a  sure 
  sign  of  termites"  [syn:  {sure}] 
  7:  exercising  or  taking  care  great  enough  to  bring  assurance; 
  "be  certain  to  disconnect  the  iron  when  you  are  through"; 
  "be  sure  to  lock  the  doors"  [syn:  {sure}] 

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