Explicitate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɛksˈplɪsɪteɪt/

Definitions

1. To provide a detailed explanation or clarification of something to improve understanding
2. To make something clear by elaborating on its meaning or aspects in full detail
3. To clarify or interpret information by stating it explicitly and thoroughly

Etymology: "Explicitate" is built from "explicit" and the verb-forming suffix "-ate," which turns adjectives and nouns into verbs. "Explicit" comes from Latin "explicitus," meaning "unfolded" or "made plain," from "explicare," "to unfold," itself formed from "ex-" (out) and "plicare" (to fold). So the core idea is of something folded up that is opened out so its contents can be seen. The verb is best understood by comparing it with French "expliciter," which has the same formation and shares its sense of spelling out what was only implied. English speakers use "explicitate" mainly in philosophy, linguistics and literary criticism, where a writer or thinker draws out a meaning that was left tacit or unstated.