certainty

certainty
noun (plural -ties) Date: 14th century 1. something that is certain 2. the quality or state of being certain especially on the basis of evidence Synonyms: certainty, certitude, conviction mean a state of being free from doubt. certainty and certitude are very close; certainty may stress the existence of objective proof <
claims that cannot be confirmed with scientific certainty
>
, while certitude may emphasize a faith in something not needing or not capable of proof <
believes with certitude in an afterlife
>
. conviction applies especially to belief strongly held by an individual <
holds firm convictions on every issue
>
.

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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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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