Ex*plain" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Explained(?);p. pr. & vb. n. Explaining.] [L. explandare to flatten, spread out, explain; ex out+plandare to make level or plain, planus plain: cf. OF. esplaner, explaner. See Plain,a., and cf. Esplanade.]

1.

To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand.

[Obs.]

The horse-chestnut is . . . ready to explain its leaf. Evelyn.

2.

To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to expound; to unfold and illustrate the meaning of; as, to explain a chapter of the Bible.

Commentators to explain the difficult passages to you. Gay.

To explain away, to get rid of by explanation. "Those explain the meaning quite away."

Pope.

Syn. -- To expound; interpret; elucidate; clear up.

 

© Webster 1913.


Ex*plain", v. i.

To give an explanation.

 

© Webster 1913.

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