Clarify

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈklæɹ.ɪ.faɪ/

Definitions

1. To make something easier to understand by explaining it more clearly or removing confusion
2. To enhance understanding by providing clearer explanations or eliminating ambiguity in the subject matter
3. To improve clarity by elucidating concepts or dispelling misunderstanding in communication

Etymology: "Clarify" is a blend of two Latin building blocks: "clarus," meaning "clear," and "facere," meaning "to make." Put together as "clarificare," it meant to make something clear or bright. The Latin word passed into Old French as "clarifier," and Middle English took it up as "clarifien," so the sense of making something bright or pure came along with it into English. The physical sense came first. Medieval writers used the word for purifying liquids, such as clearing wine, honey or butter of impurities so they became transparent. The move to the abstract sense, making an idea or explanation easy to grasp, followed naturally from this image of removing murkiness until something can be seen through.

Synonyms: explain, elucidate, clarify, illuminate, expound

Antonyms: confuse, obscure, muddle, cloud, complicate