Clarifies

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Makes an idea, statement, or situation easier to understand by removing confusion or ambiguity
2. Explains or illuminates details so that something becomes more comprehensible
3. Clears up misunderstandings or uncertainties to improve clarity and comprehension

Etymology: "Clarifies" is the third-person singular form of "clarify," so its history is that of the verb itself. The verb came into English through Middle English "clarifien," borrowed from Old French "clarifiier," which in turn came from Latin "clārificāre." That Latin verb is built from "clārus," meaning "clear" or "bright," and "facere," meaning "to make," so the core idea is literally "to make clear." The Latin root is an easy one to spot once you see it. "Clear" gives the first half, and "-fy," which descends from "facere," supplies the second half, the same element found in words like "beautify" and "simplify." The sense of brightness in "clārus" is what lets the word carry its original sense of making something shine or become visible. Over time that physical sense of making things bright and transparent extended to making ideas and statements transparent to the mind, which is the meaning used today.

Synonyms: explains, elucidates, clarifies, expounds, illuminates

Antonyms: confuses, obscures, clouds, muddles, complicates