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[ adjective ] definite but not specified or identified
Examples "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" Used in print (Norman Kent, "The Watercolor Art of Roy M. Mason"...)Just because a tree or other object appears in a certain spot is absolutely no reason to place it in the same position in the painting , unless the position serves the design of the whole composition . If the artist would study his work more thoroughly and move certain units in his design , often only slightly , finer pictures would result . `` In_addition_to the usual tools , I make constant use of cleansing tissue , not_only to wipe my brushes , but to mop_up certain areas , to soften edges , and to open_up lights in dark washes . (John R. Sargent, "Where To Aim Your Planning for Bigger...)Some distribution costs are kept up by competitive pressure , some by the fact that the customers have come to expect certain niceties and flourishes . ([Anonymous,] "The Attack on Employee Services"...)You may find certain coverage costing much more_than is economically feasible , thereby alerting you to desirable revisions . Related terms |
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[ adjective ] having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
Synonyms Examples "felt certain of success" "was sure (or certain) she had seen it" "was very sure in his beliefs" "sure of her friends" Used in print (Musical America, LXXXI:5...)Nor can anyone be certain that Prokofieff would have done better , or even as well , under different circumstances . ([Anonymous,] "The Attack on Employee Services"...)Are you carefully policing wash-up time and rest periods to be certain that all other time is productive ? (Raymond J. Corsini et al., Roleplaying in Business...)They were asked to vote `` true '' if they thought they had seen him make the error , `` false '' if they thought he had not ; and `` cannot say '' if they were not certain . (Alex Gordon, The Cipher....)Now he was certain : the lock had not yielded to Muller 's collection of keys ; fresh scars showed that the door had been prized open . (Richard S. Prather, "The Bawdy Beautiful," Cavalier...)There had been a good second or two during which my muffler had been blowing_out , and now I was certain I 'd seen her somewhere before . |
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[ adjective ] established beyond doubt or question; definitely known
Examples "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" Used in print (J. F. Vedder, "Micrometeorites", in Francis S. J...)At greater distances from the sun , the situation is still less certain . (B. J. D. Meeuse, The Story of Pollination....)It is almost certain that some of these , usually a_trifle smaller than the honeybees , are andrenas or mining_bees . (Max F. Millikan and Donald L. M. Blackmer,...)We should encourage the governments to develop their own technical assistance to communities , state and provincial governments , rural communities , and other smaller groups , making certain that no important segment of the economy is neglected . Related terms |
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[ adjective ] certain to occur; destined or inevitable
Synonyms Examples "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" Used in print (The Dallas Morning News,...)Committee approval of Gov._Price_Daniel 's `` abandoned property '' act seemed certain Thursday despite the adamant protests of Texas bankers . ("Editorials"...)The appointment of U_Thant of Burma as the U.N.'s Acting Secretary_General - at this writing , the choice appears to be certain - offers further proof that in politics it is more important to have no influential enemies than to have influential friends . (Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land....)The Man_from_Mars had interrupted him with his work half finished - and that stupid jackass Short was certain to louse_it_up . Related terms |
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[ noun ] Last name, frequency rank in the U.S. is 20995
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