Etymology: < classical Latin explicātus clear, straightforward, in post-classical Latin also designating a syllogism (1570 or earlier), use as adjective of past participle of explicāre explicate v. Compare slightly earlier explicate v.Compare etymological note at explicit adj.

Etymology: < classical Latin explicāt-, past participial stem (see -ate suffix³) of explicāre to unfold, to unroll, to level out, smooth, to extricate, to disentangle, solve, to spread out, expand, to develop, to display, to make clear, to make known, give an account of, to accomplish < ex- ex- prefix¹ + plicāre to fold (see plicate v.). Compare slightly earlier explication n., and also earlier explain v.Compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French, French expliquer , the chief senses of which include: to unfold, to unroll (14th cent., earliest reflexive), to give a detailed account of (something) (second half of the 14th cent.), to explain, to clarify (a1380). Compare also Old Occitan esplicar (14th cent.), Spanish explicar (late 14th cent.), Portuguese explicar (15th cent.), Italian esplicare (late 13th cent. as †splicar ), and also German explizieren (1539 in Luther as expliciren ). On the Latin past participial stem see note at explicit adj. In sense 2c after French expliquer (reflexive) to make clear one's meaning (1652 in the passage translated in quot. 1664, or earlier, in this sense).