3. The meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it; definition; interpretation; sense.
Different explanations [of the Trinity].
Bp. Burnet.
4. A mutual exposition of terms, meaning, or motives, with a view to adjust a misunderstanding, and reconcile differences; reconciliation; agreement; as, to come to an explanation.
Syn. -- Definition; description; explication; exposition; interpretation; detail. See Definition.
Ex*plan"a*tive (?), a. Explanatory.
Ex*plan"a*to*ri*ness (?), n. The quality of being explanatory.
Ex*plan"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. explanatorius.] Serving to explain; containing explanation; as explanatory notes. Swift.
{ Ex*plat" (?), Ex*plate" (?), } v. t. [Pref. ex- + plat or plait.] To explain; to unfold. [Obs.]
Like Solon's self explatest the knotty laws.
B. Jonson.
Ex*ple"tion (?), n. [L. expletio a satisfying. See Expletive.] Accomplishment; fulfillment. [Obs.] Killingbeck.
Ex"ple*tive (?), a. [L. expletivus, from expletus, p. p. of explere to fill up; ex out+plere to fill, akin to plenus full: cf. F. explétif. See Full.] Filling up; hence, added merely for the purpose of filling up; superfluous. "Expletive imagery." Hallam.
Expletive phrases to plump his speech.
Barrow.
Ex"ple*tive, n. A word, letter, or syllable not necessary to the sense, but inserted to fill a vacancy; an oath.
While explectives their feeble aid to join,
And ten low words oft creep in one dull line.
Pope.
Ex"ple*tive*ly, adv. In the manner of an expletive.
Ex"ple*to*ry (?), a. Serving to fill up; expletive; superfluous; as, an expletory word. Bp. Burnet.
Ex"pli*ca*ble (?), a. [L. explicabilis: cf. F. explicable.] Capable of being explicated; that may be explained or accounted for; admitting explanation.
It is not explicable upon any grounds.
Burke.
Ex"pli*ca*ble*ness, n. Quality of being explicable.
Ex"pli*cate (?), a. [L. explicatus, p. p. of explicare.] Evolved; unfolded. Jer. Taylor.
Ex"pli*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Explicated(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Explicating(?).] 1. To unfold; to expand; to lay open. [Obs.] "They explicate the leaves." Blackmore.
2. To unfold the meaning or sense of; to explain; to clear of difficulties or obscurity; to interpret.
The last verse of his last satire is not yet sufficiently explicated.
Dryden.
Ex`pli*ca"tion (?), n. [L. explicatio: cf. F. explication.] 1. The act of opening, unfolding, or explaining; explanation; exposition; interpretation.
The explication of our Savior's parables.
Atterbury.