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Elucidate

//ɪˈl(j)uːsɪdeɪt// adj, verb

Definitions

Adjective

1
Clear, understandable. obsolete, transitive
"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

1
To make (something) lucid (“bright, luminous; also, clear, transparent”). obsolete, transitive
2
make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear wordnet
3
To make (something) clear and understandable; to clarify, to illuminate, to shed light on. figuratively, transitive
"Let me hear vvhat your ovvn conceptions are of the matter, if they tend to elucidate or reconcile."
4
make clear and (more) comprehensible wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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

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