Expiscate

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To obtain or draw out information or details through thorough or careful investigation
2. To gradually discover or uncover facts by persistent inquiry or analysis
3. To carefully gather or retrieve knowledge by subtle or systematic questioning or examination

Etymology: Latin "piscis" meant "fish," and "piscari" meant "to fish," so the English verb "expiscate" is literally a metaphor for hauling something out of deep water. The Latin prefix "ex-" means "out," so the sense is to fish out. A Roman speaker would have used the word for angling, and the figurative use of drawing out hidden facts came later in English. The Latin verb "expiscari" produced the past participle "expiscatus," which English borrowed as the source of "expiscate." The English word is a learned formation drawn from Latin rather than an everyday word that grew up in speech, which explains its formal tone. Its root "pisc-" also appears in "piscatorial" and "piscine," both of which describe things connected to fish.

Synonyms: discover, unearth

Antonyms: conceal