explicate
UK[ˈɛksplɪkeɪt]US[ˈɛksplɪˌkeɪt]
v
To analyze and develop an idea or principle in detail.
v
To make clear the meaning of something; to explain.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
plic
ate
ex
out
plic
fold
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
The word 'explicate' originates from the Latin verb explicare, which is a compound of ex- ("out") and plicare ("to fold"). The literal sense was "to unfold" or "to unroll," as one might unroll a scroll to reveal its contents. This concrete action evolved metaphorically to signify the process of making something complicated or tangled clear and understandable by laying it out in a logical, step-by-step manner. Thus, the modern abstract meaning of analyzing and explaining a complex idea in detail directly follows the logic of unfolding its hidden or intricate layers for examination.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + plic (fold) + ate (verb suffix)
- ex: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "out, out of, thoroughly."
- plic: Latin origin, from the root of plicare, meaning "to fold."
- ate: Latin origin, a suffix forming verbs meaning "to make or cause to be."
Examples
The professor asked the students to explicate the poem's central metaphor.
His book aims to explicate the core principles of quantum mechanics for a general audience.
The judge demanded the lawyer to further explicate the legal reasoning behind the motion.