Where does “preascertain” come from?

preascertain (English) comes from English ascertain, from Middle English acerteynen, from Old French acertener, from Old French certain, from Vulgar Latin certanus, from Latin certus, from Proto-Indo-European krey- — to sift, separate, divide.

preascertain (English): To ascertain in advance

Definitions

  1. To ascertain in advance

Ancestry of “preascertain”, step by step

preascertain traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ascertain

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishascertainTo find out definitely; to discover or establish;...
2Middle Englishacerteynen
3Old Frenchacertenerto assure; to make sure of, to make certain of
4Old Frenchcertaincertain; sure
5Vulgar Latincertanuscertain
6Latincertuscertain; fixed, settled, firm; resolved,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeankrey-to sift, separate, divide

via English pre

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpreBefore; Precum, Cowper's fluid, pre-ejaculate; To...
2Latinpraebefore; in front; in front of
3Proto-Italicpraibefore; in front of
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European krey-Every word from Latin certusEvery word from Vulgar Latin certanus