Where does “certain” come from?

Certain comes from Middle English certein, from Old French certain, from Latin certus meaning "settled or decided," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱer- meaning "to grow or increase."

certain (English): Sure, positive, not doubting; Determined;...

Definitions

  1. Sure, positive, not doubting; Determined;...

Ancestry of “certain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishcerteynSpecified, prescribed, fixed; A certain; Real,...
2Old Frenchcertaincertain; sure
3Vulgar Latincertanuscertain
4Latincertuscertain; fixed, settled, firm; resolved,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeankrey-to sift, separate, divide

Words derived from “certain

Every word from Proto-Indo-European krey-Every word from Latin certusEvery word from Vulgar Latin certanus