certainty

certainty
cer|tain|ty [ˈsə:tnti US ˈsə:r-] n plural certainties
1.) [U]
the state of being completely certain
with certainty
She knew with absolute certainty that he'd say no.
The result is impossible to predict with any degree of certainty .
2.) [U]
the fact that something is certain to happen
certainty of (doing) sth
the certainty of being caught
certainty that
There's no certainty that he'll remember.
3.)
something that is definitely true or that will definitely happen
He usually does quite well, but it's not a certainty.
The only certainty is that there will need to be major changes.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • Certainty — series Agnosticism Belief Certainty Doubt Determinism Epistemology Estimation Fallibilism …   Wikipedia

  • certainty — certainty, certitude, assurance, conviction are comparable when denoting a state of mind in which one is free from doubt. Certainty and certitude both imply the absence of all doubt as to the truth of something; they are not always… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • certainty — I noun absence of doubt, absolute confidence, absoluteness, assurance, assuredness, authoritativeness, certification, certitude, certus, complete conviction, conclusiveness, confidentness, conviction, corroboration, definiteness, firmness,… …   Law dictionary

  • certainty — certainty, certitude Leaving aside special meanings in philosophy, both words imply the absence of doubt about the truth of something, but certitude is a more subjective feeling whereas certainty is, strictly speaking, verifiable. In practice,… …   Modern English usage

  • Certainty — Cer tain*ty, n.; pl. {Certainties}. [OF. certainet[ e].] 1. The quality, state, or condition, of being certain. [1913 Webster] The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes. Fisher Ames. [1913 Webster] 2. A fact or truth… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • certainty — [sʉrt′ ntē] n. [ME certeinte < OFr certaineté] 1. the quality, state, or fact of being certain 2. pl. certainties anything certain; definite act of a certainty Archaic without a doubt; certainly SYN. CERTAINTY suggests a firm, settled belief… …   English World dictionary

  • certainty — c.1300, certeynte, surety, pledge, from Anglo Fr. certeinté (late 13c.), O.Fr. certaineté certainty, from L. or V.L. *certanitatem (Cf. O.Sp. certanedad); see CERTAIN (Cf. certain). Meaning that which is certain is attested from early 14c.;… …   Etymology dictionary

  • certainty — [n1] positive assurance all sewn up*, authoritativeness, belief, certitude, cinch, confidence, conviction, credence, definiteness, dogmatism, faith, firmness, indubitableness, inevitability, lock*, lockup*, open and shut case*, positiveness,… …   New thesaurus

  • certainty — ► NOUN (pl. certainties) 1) the quality or state of being certain. 2) a fact that is true or an event that is definitely going to take place …   English terms dictionary

  • certainty — n. 1) absolute, dead; mathematical; moral certainty 2) certainty of (there is no certainty of success) 3) certainty that + clause (there is no certainty that an agreement will be reached) 4) with certainty (to state with certainty) * * * [… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • certainty — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ absolute, complete ▪ near, reasonable, virtual ▪ It s a virtual certainty that essential foodstuffs will go up in price. ▪ moral …   Collocations dictionary

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