certain French · revision 16401

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1160 (certan)|origins=la cernō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɛʁ.tɛ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /sɛʁ.tɛ.n‿/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''certain''' (feminine certaine, masculine plural certains, feminine plural certaines)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''certan'' (about 1160), then ''certain'' (about 1200).^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*certānus]], derived from classical [[la|certus|t=settled, fixed; sure]] (see [[certes]]), the past participle used as an adjective of [[m|la|cernō|t=to sift; to discern, decide]] (see [[discerner]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary) “Certus” itself gave Old French [[m|fro|cert]], which did not reach the 16th century, supplanted by “certain”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ Cognate with [[pro|certan|t=sure, sincere]] and old Spanish and Italian “certano”; modern [[it|certo]] and [[es|cierto]] continue “certus”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found as ''certan'' about 1160, of a person: “sure, convinced”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of a thing it meant “assured, undeniable” about 1200 and “well established” in 1373.^(DHLF 1992) Placed before a noun of person (1283) it expresses a feigned and sometimes scornful ignorance (''un certain X''), and before any noun an indefinite quality (''un certain âge''); without an article it is an indefinite adjective close to ''quelques''.^(DHLF 1992) The pronoun ''certains'' “some people” is found once in 1634 and again from 1863.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Old uses as a noun, “certainty” (1374) and “what is sure” (1567), have nearly gone, except on the stock exchange, where ''le certain'' is a fixed rate of exchange (1738).^(DHLF 1992) The derivative ''certainement'' and the compound [[incertain]] (1329) followed.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1160 – ''Certan'' “sure”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1200 – ''Certain'' of things.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1283 – Before a person's name.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1329 – ''Incertain''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1373 – “Well established”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1863 – The pronoun ''certains''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # After the noun: [[m|en|certain]], sure, beyond doubt: ''un fait certain''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a person: sure, convinced: ''j'en suis certain''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # Before the noun: some, a [[m|en|particular]]: ''un certain temps'', ''d'un certain âge'', ''un certain M. Dupont''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ===Determiner===

+ # ''Certains'', ''certaines'': some, a few: ''certains jours''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # ''Certains'': some people: ''certains pensent que…''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[certainement]]

+ * [[incertain]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[certitude]]

+ * [[certes]]

+ * [[certifier]]

+ * [[la|certus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}