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Vinony

elucidate

verb

  1. explain clearly
L32471 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdət/ / /əˈlusəˌdət/ / /i-/ / /ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdeɪt/ / /əˈlusəˌdeɪt/

adj

Etymology: From Late Latin ēlūcidātus (“lightened, enlightened”), see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.

  1. Clear, understandable.

    “There vvas not a greater Maſter of Perſpicuity, and elucidate Diſtinctions; vvhich look'd the better in his [John Williams'] Engliſh, that ran ſvveet upon his Tongue, eſpecially being ſet out vvith a graceful Facetiouſneſs, that hit the joint of the Matter: For his VVit, and his Judgment, never parted.”

verb

Etymology: From Late Latin ēlūcidātus, perfect passive participle of ēlūcidō (“to lighten, enlighten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ē(x)- (“out, from”) + lūcidus (“bright, clear, understandable”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), literally “to make light of (something)”, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright; to see; to shine”). Compare French élucider.

  1. To make (something) lucid (“bright, luminous; also, clear, transparent”).
  2. To make (something) clear and understandable; to clarify, to illuminate, to shed light on.

    “Let me hear vvhat your ovvn conceptions are of the matter, if they tend to elucidate or reconcile.”

    “Dining at Mr. [Samuel] Pepys's, Dr. Slayer shewed us an experiment of a wonderful nature, […] This matter or phosphorus was made out of human blood and urine, elucidating the vital flame or heate in animal bodys.”