elaborative
UK[ɪˈlæbərətɪv]US[ɪˈlæbəˌreɪtɪv]
adj
Serving to add more detail or information; explanatory or expansive in nature.
adj
(Psychology) Relating to or involving a cognitive process of enriching new information by relating it to existing knowledge.
Morpheme Breakdown
e
labor
ative
e
out
labor
work
ative
tending to
Etymology
The word 'elaborative' is built upon the Latin verb 'elaborare', meaning 'to work out' or 'to produce by labor'. This verb itself is a compound of the prefix 'e-' (out) and 'laborare' (to work). The core concept is one of bringing something forth or developing it through diligent effort. The suffix '-ative' was later appended to form an adjective, shifting the sense from the act of working out to the quality of serving to work out or develop in detail. Thus, the modern meaning retains this logic of adding detail and substance through intellectual exertion, moving an idea from a basic form to a more developed, 'worked-out' state.
Analysis
Structure: e + labor + ative
e: Latin origin, a variant of the prefix 'ex-', meaning 'out'.
labor: Latin origin, meaning 'work', 'toil', or 'exertion'. Functions as the core root.
ative: Latin suffix '-ativus' (via Old French '-atif'), forming adjectives meaning 'tending to', 'serving to', or 'connected with'.
Examples
The professor provided an elaborative explanation of the complex theory.
Elaborative rehearsal is a more effective memory technique than simple repetition.
Her report was highly elaborative, including numerous charts and case studies.