Accertare

Accertare is an Italian transitive verb meaning to ascertain, determine with certainty, or verify the truth of a fact. It is commonly used in formal, investigative, administrative, or journalistic language to indicate that something has been established through evidence or inspection. The related noun accertamento denotes the act or result of verification, such as a procedure, finding, or determination.

Etymology and forms: accertare derives from Latin roots related to certus, meaning certain or sure, with a prefixed intensifier. In contemporary usage the verb appears across legal, administrative, and technical contexts where establishing facts or compliance is required. The associated verb form accertarsi exists in a reflexive sense, meaning to ascertain for oneself or to make sure of something.

Usage and examples: accertare facts, truth, responsibility, or conformity. Examples: La polizia ha accertato i fatti. L’azienda deve accertare la conformità dei propri prodotti. In journalism one may report that authorities have accertato the authenticity of documents. The noun accertamento is used for a formal verification process or its outcome, such as a technical or forensic accertamento.

Grammatical notes: accertare uses avere as the auxiliary in compound tenses (ho accertato, hai accertato, ha accertato). The passive voice is formed with essere (è stato accertato). The reflexive form accertarsi (mi sono accertato, si è accertato) means to check for oneself or to make sure of something; with di or che clauses, the subordinate verb mood can vary (indicative or subjunctive depending on certainty).

See also: accertamento, verificare, controllare, certificare.