EXPLAIN • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Explain

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/ɪksplˈeɪn/ Listen

verb

Explain v. t. (past & past part. explained; pres. part. explaining)

To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand. (Obs.) "The horse-chestnut is... ready to explain its leaf."

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."

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

Synonyms: To expound; interpret; elucidate; clear up.

Explain v. i. To give an explanation.

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Etymology of 'Explain'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Explain" Quotes from Famous Books

... twentieth-century stage. Many modern criticisms are shown to be without reason when we understand the wishes of the audience and the manner of presenting the plays. The conditions of the entry or the reentry of a player might explain some of those lengthy monologues that seem so inartistic to modern dramatists. The Elizabethan theaters and the tastes of their patrons had certain ...

— Halleck's New English Literature • Reuben P. Halleck

... inner uneasiness grew. For some queer reason which he could not define to himself or explain to anyone else, he was now possessed by an urgency to trail the globe which transcended and then erased his dislike of the aliens. It was as if some appeal for help was being broadcast from the other ship, drawing him on. ...

— Star Born • Andre Norton

... strawberries were rare. I ate one berry, and then, overcome by an ambition to be generous also, took the other berry home to my mother, telling her how I had got it. To my chagrin, mother was deeply shocked. She told me that the transaction was all wrong, and she made me take back the berry and explain the matter to Mrs. Cabot. By the time I reached that generous lady the berry was the worse for its journey, and so was I. I was only nine years old and very sensitive. It was clear to me that I could hardly live through the humiliation of the confession, and it was indeed a bitter ...

— The Story of a Pioneer - With The Collaboration Of Elizabeth Jordan • Anna Howard Shaw

... to explain his errand; but after a few words the woman called to him to wait until she could come down, and then slammed the window down. To the young brakeman's impatience the ensuing delay seemed an hour in length, though in reality not more than five minutes ...

— Cab and Caboose - The Story of a Railroad Boy • Kirk Munroe

... visit, supposed by you to be the protegee of that lady, and a person of some consequence. Her protection has been taken away from me, and I am now a beggar, with nothing but my talents for my future support. I explain this to you frankly, because I cannot think of remaining as your visitor; and if I do not ask too much, all that I wish of your friendship is, that you will give me such a recommendation as you think I deserve, by which I may obtain the ...

— Valerie • Frederick Marryat

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