Certain footholds

The word that fits the crossword clue ‘certain footholds‘ is ‘rungs‘. A rung is a horizontal crosspiece that is attached to a ladder and provides a foothold for a person climbing up or down. Rungs are found both in portable ladders and permanent fixed ladders, such as those found on the outside of buildings or on industrial equipment. The word ‘rungs‘ can also be used metaphorically to describe levels of achievement or advancement in a particular field, such as the corporate ladder. In summary, the answer to the crossword question ‘Certain footholds is RUNGS‘ refers to the horizontal steps that allow us to climb up or down a ladder.