Part 675

<h1>Ascertain</h1> <Xpage=87>

<hw>As`cer*tain"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Ascertained</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Ascertaining</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OF. <ets>acertener</ets>; <ets>a</ets> (L. <ets>ad</ets>) + <ets>certain</ets>. See <er>Certain</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>When the blessed Virgin was so <b>ascertained</b>. <i>Jer. Taylor.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream <b>ascertained</b> him of its effects. <i>Robertson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<blockquote>The divine law . . . <b>ascertaineth</b> the truth. <i>Hooker.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and <b>ascertain</b> the condemnation. <i>Jer. Taylor.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The ministry, in order to <b>ascertain</b> a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers. <i>Smollett.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The mildness and precision of their laws <b>ascertained</b> the rule and measure of taxation. <i>Gibbon.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; <as>as, to <ex>ascertain</ex> the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal</as>.</def>

<blockquote>He was there only for the purpose of <b>ascertaining</b> whether a descent on England was practicable. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Ascertainable</h1> <Xpage=87>

<hw>As`cer*tain"a*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>That may be ascertained.</def> -- <wordforms><wf>As`cer*tain"a*ble*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt> -- <wf>As`cer*tain"a*bly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Ascertainer</h1> <Xpage=87>

<hw>As`cer*tain"er</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who ascertains.</def>

<h1>Ascertainment</h1> <Xpage=87>

<hw>As`cer*tain"ment</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery.</def>

<blockquote>The positive <b>ascertainment</b> of its limits. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

<mhw><h1>Ascessancy, n. Ascessant</h1> <Xpage=87>

<hw>As*ces"san*cy</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <hw>As*ces"sant</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def> See <er>Acescency</er>, <er>Acescent</er>.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Ascetic</h1> <Xpage=87>

<hw>As*cet"ic</hw> <tt>(#)</tt> <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to exercise, to practice gymnastics.]</ety> <def>Extremely rigid in self-denial and devotions; austere; severe.</def>

<blockquote>The stern <b>ascetic</b> rigor of the Temple discipline. <i>Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Ascetic</h1> <Xpage=87>

<hw>As*cet"ic</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>In the early church, one who devoted himself to a solitary and contemplative life, characterized by devotion, extreme self-denial, and self-mortification; a hermit; a recluse; hence, one who practices extreme rigor and self-denial in religious things.</def>

<blockquote>I am far from commending those <b>ascetics</b> that take up their quarters in deserts. <i>Norris.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Ascetic theology</col>, <cd>the science which treats of the practice of the theological and moral virtues, and the counsels of perfection.</cd> <i>Am. Cyc.</i></cs>

<h1>Asceticism</h1> <Xpage=87>