CERTAIN

Main Entry:: ¹cer·tain
Pronunciation:: \ˈsər-t^ən\
Function:: adjective
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *certanus, from Latin certus, from past participle of cernere to sift, discern, decide; akin to Greek krinein to separate, decide, judge, Old Irish criathar sieve
Date:: 13th century

1: fixed , settled <a certain percentage of the profit>2: of a specific but unspecified character, quantity, or degree <the house has a certain charm>3 a: dependable , reliable <a certain remedy for the disease> b: known or proved to be true : indisputable <it is certain that we exist>4 a: inevitable <the certain advance of age> b: incapable of failing : destined —used with a following infinitive <she is certain to do well>5: assured in mind or action <I am certain they are right>

synonyms see sure

— for certain

: as a certainty : assuredly <the cause is not known for certain>

— of a certain age

: of a somewhat advanced age : no longer young <remembered by people of a certain age>

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