English · Daily Life

certain

/ˈsɜːtən/

[/ˈsɜːtən/]

particular but unnamed

Intermediatedeterminer

Definition

Used to refer to a particular thing or person without naming it.

Example

A certain man asked for you.

A certain man asked for you.

Etymology

From Latin 'certus', meaning 'settled' or 'sure'.

How & Where It’s Used

As a determiner it points vaguely; as an adjective it means 'sure'.

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