elucidate

elucidate · verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*lewk-“bright; to see; to shine”
2. Late Latin · borrowed fromēlūcidātus
3. English todayelucidate

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.

elucidate · adjective²

1. Late Latin · borrowed fromēlūcidātus“lightened, enlightened”
2. English todayelucidate

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

Words from the same roots