certaintyn.
/ˈsəːt(ᵻ)nti/, U.S. /ˈsərtnti/ 1. That which is certain; the certain state of matters, the fact, the truth; a certain account. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > [noun] > true statement, correct account, truth
soothquidec888
soothsawc950
soothOE
righteousnessa1225
certainty1330
truthc1330
trotha1387
verity1533
tell-truth?1556
oracle1569
true1581
round O1605
fact1779
veracity1852
veritability1864
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [noun] > that which is certain
certainty1330
suretyc1400
demonstrable1656
given1879
pipe1895
1292 Britton iv. viii. §2 Et si ele dedie par la affirmative ou la negative, sourd une doute dount la certeinté fet a enquere del ordinarie.]
1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 25 Right story can me not ken, þe certeynte what spellis.
1484 W. Cely Let. 14 Apr. in Cely Lett. (1975) 210 The man ys goode inowȝthe [= enough] were we yn sertente of pes betwyxte Flaunders and us.
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. xxi. 65 As we may be infourmed and knowe the certeynte therof.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 165 The king..woulde therevnto geue no credite, vntill he had sent thether, and receyued..the certaintie.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. ii. §10 We have then no certainty at all..of any certain Records..unless they be contained in those sacred inscriptions from whence Manetho took his history.
2. As a count noun: a fact or thing certain or sure.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [noun] > a certainty, fact
soothc1374
certain1377
surety?a1475
probatum1594
experient1605
certaintya1616
factum1641
matter of breviary1694
definite1726
fixity1817
a settled thing (or matter)1819
monty1894
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) i. vi. 97 For Certainties Either are past remedies; or timely knowing, The remedy then borne. View more context for this quotation
1684 Contempl. State Man (1699) i. vii. 75 It being not then a suspicion, but an apparent certainty that Death will come.
1712 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. c6 Dec. (1965) I. 172 I would not advise you to neglect a certainty for an uncertainty.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1775 I. 464 [Strahan:] Small certainties are the bane of men of talents.
1889 N.E.D. at Certainty Mod. To surrender a certainty for a mere prospect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > pledge or assurance
wordOE
costOE
earnest1221
fayc1300
certainty1303
wager1306
plighta1325
pledge1371
assurancec1386
undertaking?a1400
faithc1405
surementc1410
to make affiancec1425
earnest pennya1438
warrant1460
trow1515
fidelity1531
stipulation1552
warranty1555
pawn1573
arrha1574
avouchment1574
assumption1590
word of honour1598
avouch1603
assecurance1616
preassurance1635
tower-stamp1642
parole of honour1648
spondence1657
honour1659
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 8218 He hadde seyde hym hys certeynte.
1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 69 My broþer delyuer þou me, my neuow þou me grante, & hold þi certeynte, and salle hold couenante.
1425 Sc. Acts Jas. I (1596) §62 Bot gif that man haue ane letter or certainetie of the Lord of that land..for quhat cause he cummis in this Realme.
4. The quality or fact of being (objectively) certain.
ΚΠ
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 7837 Þare es ay blysfulle certaynté.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 91 The Starres..without whose ayme there is no certaintie.
1738 in J. Keill Ess. Animal Oecon. (ed. 4) Pref. p. xxvi Geometry, which truly boasts of the Beauty of Certainty.
1880 E. White Certainty in Relig. 3 The Evangelist distinguishes between what we now term certitude—or the belief of the mind—and certainty, or the solid reality of the facts or truths believed in.
5.
a. The quality or state of being subjectively certain; assurance, confidence; absence of doubt or hesitation; = certitude n. moral certainty: see moral adj. 7.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [noun]
sickerlaika1225
sickerness?c1225
sickerheadc1250
boldness1330
certaintya1340
traistc1340
assurancec1374
certain138.
sureness1419
surancea1450
affiancec1460
certitude?a1475
resting?a1475
security1535
firmancec1540
confidence1555
assuredness1561
resolution1590
plerophory1598
reliance1606
undoubtfulness1619
positiveness1711
positivity1741
decidedness1800
positivism1842
undoubtingness1857
inexpugnability1864
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [noun]
mid iwissea1000
certaina1300
certaintya1340
sickerness1390
sickerty1405
sureness1419
redinessc1425
suretyc1425
surenessa1475
assurancec1485
certitude1538
constancy1563
assuredness1570
certainness1571
confirmedness1667
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter vi. 1 The seven psalmes..bygynnys all in sorrow..and bitternes of forthynkynge, and þai end in certaynte of pardoun.
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 43 For love is blinde and may nought se, Forthy may no certeinte Be sette upon his jugement.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. i. 169 Vpon thy certainty and confidence, What dar'st thou venter? View more context for this quotation
1646 Burd. Issach. in Phenix (1708) II. 276 That this is truth, I am as much assur'd of, as moral Certainty can assure any Man of moral Truth.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 101. ¶7 This is all we can affirm with any Certainty of his Person and Character.
1838 A. De Morgan Ess. Probabilities 3 (Cab. Cycl. Nat. Philos.) Our moral certainty of the fact.
1839 H. Hallam Introd. Lit. Europe III. iii. 240 The soul's progress from opinion to doubt, and from doubt to certainty.
b. with plural.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [noun] > instance of
yeaa1400
certainty1605
certitude1611
promisea1625
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. G2v If a man will begin with certainties, hee shall end in doubts. View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > [noun] > a definite or specified quantity or amount
quantitya1325
measurec1384
certainc1386
certainty1431
assignment1519
dosis1543
dose1607
matter1610
quantum1747
volume1812
1431 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 278 The vicarye..schal haue iiijs. and iiijd. for his certeyntee of messes.
1601 F. Tate Househ. Ord. Edward II (1876) §11. 11 Setting downe the certenti of the price.
1601 F. Tate Househ. Ord. Edward II (1876) §51. 35 By reson of the certenty which is theron assesed.
1603 S. Daniel Def. Ryme in Panegyrike (new ed.) sig. G6 Nature, that desires a certaintie, and comports not with that which is infinite.
7. for, (in, at obs.), of, to (a) certainty: as a matter of certainty, beyond doubt, assuredly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > of course, certainly [phrase]
to iwissea1000
mid iwissea1000
in wisc1000
to wis(se)c1000
without(en (any) weenc1175
sans fail1297
thereof no strife1297
but werea1300
forouten werea1300
out of werea1300
without werea1300
without deceit1303
for certainc1320
it is to wittingc1320
withouten carec1320
without nayc1330
without noc1330
without (but out of) dread1340
no doubtc1380
without distancec1390
no fresea1400
out of doubta1400
without doubta1400
for, (in, at obs.), of, to (a) certaintyc1400
withouten stance14..
hazel woods shakea1413
of, on, in warrantisec1440
sure enough?1440
without question?1440
wythout diswerec1440
without any dispayrec1470
for (also of) a surety?a1475
in (also for) surenessa1475
of certainc1485
without any (also all) naya1500
out of question?1526
past question?1526
for sure1534
what else1540
beyond (also out of, past, without) (all) peradventure1542
to be a bidden by1549
out of (also without) all cry1565
with a witness1579
upon my word1591
no question1594
out of all suspicion1600
for a certain1608
without scruple1612
to be sure1615
that's pos1710
in course1722
beyond (all) question1817
(and) no mistake1818
no two ways about it (also that)1818
of course1823
bien entendu1844
yessiree1846
you bet you1857
make no mistake1876
acourse1883
sans doute1890
how are you?1918
you bet your bippy1968
c1400 Rom. Rose 5435 They wene to have in certeynte Of hertly freendis so grete noumbre.
c1460 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (1714) 47 The Kyngs Extraordynary chargys ar so casuel, that no Man may knowe them in certeynte.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Biiv No persone may know for certaynty, whether he haue it or nat.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 34 It is of certaintie that her proper name was Nicostrata.
1611 Bible (King James) Josh. xxiii. 13 Know for a certainety, that the Lord your God, etc. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Dan. ii. 8 I know of certeinty that ye would gaine the time. View more context for this quotation
1641 Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia (new ed.) 11 This will be of certainty, that, [etc.].
1665 A. Marvell Let. 9 Dec. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 255 But pray tell us once more in certainty whether it must consequently make 600li a yeare.
1789 Trifler No. 33. 420 Since music has become the rage, all our ladies must at a certainty, learn this sweet language.
1820 W. Scott Abbot II. iv. 108 Thou restless boy—Thou hast quicksilver in the veins of thee to a certainty.
1873 M. Oliphant Innocent ix One or other will fall in love with her to a certainty.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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