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to find out definitely; learn with certainty or -ssurance; determine:
to ascertain the facts.
archaic. to make certain, clear, or definitely known.
historical examples

it is only bit by bit that one ascertains the truth in affairs like these.
the greville memoirs charles c. f. greville

rigoletto has no immediate need of him, but ascertains where he can be found.
the complete opera book gustav kobb

it establishes a difference between science, which ascertains principles, and art, which applies them.
history of civilization in england, vol. 3 of 3 henry thomas buckle

he first ascertains what is according to the rule, and then follows it as nearly as he is able.
the intellectual life =philip gilbert hamerton

he ascertains its leaf-food; which it eats promisingly; all goes on encouragingly.
the romance of natural history, second series philip henry gosse

as already mentioned, david hirsch ascertains that 97% of human activity is concept free.
the civilization of illiteracy mihai nadin

for one’s own dear self, one ascertains and remembers everything.
the letters of jane austen jane austen

it is long after dark before he ascertains his bearings, and succeeds in m-ssing his division where it is needed.
the campaign of chancellorsville theodore a. dodge

the chairman regulates the proceedings of the board, and ascertains its resolutions.
blackwood’s edinburgh magazine, vol. 60, no. 373, november 1846 various

the number of threads visible in this perforation, ascertains the number of threads in the standard measure of the reed.
a dictionary of arts, manufactures and mines andrew ure

verb (transitive)
to determine or discover definitely
(archaic) to make certain
v.

early 15c., “to inform, to give -ssurance,” from anglo-french acerteiner, old french acertener “to -ssure, certify” (13c.), from a “to” (see ad-) + certain “certain” (see certain). modern meaning of “find out for sure by experiment or investigation” is first attested 1794. related: ascertained; ascertaining.