Word: ascertain (verb)

Associations

"Ascertain" means to find out or discover something with certainty, often by careful examination or investigation.

• Example 1: "The detective tried to ascertain the cause of the accident." Here, it means to find out the cause clearly.
• Example 2: "Please ascertain whether the meeting is scheduled for tomorrow." This means to check and be sure about the meeting time.
• Example 3: "Scientists ascertain facts through experiments." This means they confirm facts by testing. A similar word is "find out," but "ascertain" sounds more formal and often implies careful checking or investigation.

Substitution

You can replace "ascertain" with:

• "find out" (more casual)
• "determine" (similar meaning, also formal)
• "confirm" (if you want to emphasize verifying something already known) Using "ascertain" usually suggests a careful or official search for the truth.

Deconstruction

The word "ascertain" comes from the prefix "as-" (a variant of "ad-" meaning "to") and the root "certain," which means sure or definite. So, "ascertain" literally means "to make certain" or "to find out for sure."

Inquiry

• When was the last time you had to ascertain some information before making a decision?
• How is "ascertain" different from simply guessing or assuming?
• Can you think of situations at school or work where it is important to ascertain facts before acting?