clarify
UK[ˈklær.ɪ.faɪ]US[ˈkler.ə.faɪ]
v
To make something clearer or easier to understand.
v
To remove impurities from a substance, especially a liquid.
Morpheme Breakdown
clar
ify
clar
clear
ify
to make
Etymology
The word 'clarify' has a transparent journey from Latin into English. It derives from the Late Latin verb clarificare, which is a compound of clarus ('clear') and the verb-forming element -ficare (from facere, 'to make'). The literal meaning, 'to make clear', was applied in both a physical and intellectual sense. While its original use in Middle English often referred to the physical purification of liquids, the logical extension to making statements, ideas, or situations more comprehensible became its dominant modern abstract meaning.
Analysis
Structure: clar (clear) + ify (to make)
'clar' originates from Latin clarus, meaning 'clear, bright, famous'. 'ify' is a verb-forming suffix from Latin -ificare, meaning 'to make'.
Examples
Could you clarify your instructions for the team?
The chef used egg whites to clarify the consommé.
The spokesperson was asked to clarify the company's official position.