Explicate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈɛk.splɪˌkeɪt/

Definitions

1. To make something clear and understandable by explaining it in detail, or to unfold and develop the implications or underlying meaning of a concept
2. To clarify a concept by providing a detailed explanation, revealing deeper meanings, or illustrating its significance through thorough analysis
3. To provide a comprehensive explanation of a subject, elucidating its nuances and implications while ensuring clarity and understanding

Etymology: "Explicate" comes from Latin "explicare," which meant "to unfold" or "to unroll," as in opening up something folded or tightly wrapped. The idea behind the verb is physical: a rolled-up document or a knotted cord is unfolded so its contents can be seen. Over time that sense of opening something out moved into the mental realm, so that to explicate a subject is to unfold its parts until they can be understood. English borrowed the word directly from Latin, and it is the root of the family that includes "explain," "explanation," and "explicit." The Latin verb was built from "ex," meaning "out," and "plicare," meaning "to fold," so the same image of folding and unfolding runs through the whole group. "Explicate" tends to sound more formal and technical than "explain," which is why it often appears in academic and philosophical writing, where a thorough, step-by-step unpacking of an idea is the goal.

Synonyms: explain, clarify, elucidate, interpret

Antonyms: confuse, obscure, muddle