ex·pli·ca·tion de texte \eksplēkäsyōⁿd(ə)tekst\noun (pluralexplications de texte \“\) Etymology: French, literally, text explanation 1.: a method of literary criticism involving a detailed examination of each part of a work and an exposition of the relationship of these parts to each other and to the whole work 2.: a critical analysis employing explication de texte