elucidate
/ɪˈluːsɪdeɪt/
verb
Origin
Latin
elucidare — to make clear
Overview
Meaning Now
- To make something clear or easy to understand; to explain or throw light upon.
Literal older meaning
to bring into the light
Language path
Latin → Middle English → English
Earliest form
elucidate
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The word entered English during the Renaissance, a period when many Latinate terms related to intellectual discourse and clarity were adopted into the language to accommodate more precise academic and theological writing.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*leuk-
“light, brightness”
Root for light and clarity.
- Latin
elucidare
“to make clear or bright”
Derived from ex- (out) + lucidus (clear, bright).
- Late Latin
elucidatus
“made clear”
Past participle form.
- English, 16th century
elucidate
“to explain, make plain”
Direct loan from Latin.
Connections
Word parts
e-
prefix
out
lucid
root
light, clear
-ate
suffix
verbal suffix
Related across languages
French
élucider
to elucidate
Spanish
elucidar
to elucidate
Italian
elucidare
to elucidate
Explore next
Related to elucidate
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.