ascertains

Verb

ascertain (third-person singular simple present ascertains, present participle ascertaining, simple past and past participle ascertained)

1. (transitive) To find out definitely; to discover or establish.
   • As soon as we ascertain what the situation is, we can plan how to proceed.

   Synonyms:

   determine, discover, establish, find out, learn, work out, see, discern, assess

2. (obsolete, transitive) To make (someone) certain or confident about something; to inform.
   • Therfore the saide cõmissioners shall mowe say that nowe late during the parlement the King ascertaigned of the saide maliciouse pʳpose of his enemys, willed and desired the lords being then present to shewe their̃ good willes aide and helpe for the saide rescues[…]1436, Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, editor, Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England, volume IV, published 1835, page 352c
3. (Yorkshire, dated, intransitive) To look for something lost.
4. (archaic, transitive) To establish, to prove.
   • The two firſt lines of the following book ſeem to aſcertain the true meaning of the concluſion of this, and to prove ſufficiently that by Ωκεανός here, Homer could not poſſibly intend any other than a river.1791, William Cowper, Homer’s Odyssey, volume II, book XI, page 274 (footnote)
5. (archaic, transitive) To ensure or effect.
   • It is true, that no diligence can aſcertain ſucceſs ; death may intercept the ſwifteſt career ; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honeſt undertaking, has at leaſt the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he miſſed the victory.1751 June 29, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler, volume III, number 134, London: A. Millar et al., published 1761, page 155