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Tracing “”…
Where does the word "certain" come from? It comes from Latin certus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "certain" come from? It comes from Latin certus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Certain’s story begins in Latin: certus meant “determined, settled.” Determined, settled, from cernere (to sift, to determine). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as certain. Carried into French for something known for sure. It reached English by 1300s as certain. Settled as the English word for something known without doubt. Today, certain means known for sure, without doubt.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient certus "determined, settled", determined, settled, from cernere (to sift, to determine).
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval certain "known for sure", carried into French for something known for sure.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s certain "known without doubt, sure", settled as the English word for something known without doubt.