Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CER'TAIN, a. [cer'tin; Fr. certain; Sp. cierto; It. and Port. certo; from L. certus.]

1. Sure; true; undoubted; unquestionable; that can not be denied; existing in fact and truth. The dream is certain and the interpretation sure. – Dan. ii.
2. Assured in mind; having no doubts; followed by of, before a noun. However I with thee have fixed my lot, / Certain to undergo like doom of death, / Consort with thee. – Milton. To make her certain of the sad event. – Dryden.
3. Unfailing; always producing the intended effect; as, we may have a certain remedy for a disease.
4. Not doubtful or casual; really existing. Virtue that directs or ways Through certain dangers to uncertain praise. – Dryden.
5. Stated; fixed; determinate; regular. Ye shall gather a certain rate every day. – Ex. xvi.
6. Particular. There came a certain poor widow. – Mark xii. In the plural number, a particular part or number; some; an indefinite part, number, or quantity. “Hanani came, he and certain men of Judah.” “I mourned certain days.” – Neh. i. 2, 6. In the latter sense, it is used as a noun; as, “certain also of your own poets have said.” – Acts xvii.