What is "lucubrate"

Lucubrate \Lu"cu*brate\, v. t. To elaborate, perfect, or compose, by night study or by laborious endeavor.

Lucubrate \Lu"cu*brate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lucubrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Lucubrated.] [L. lucubratus, p. p. of lucubrare to work by lamplight, fr. lux light. See Light, n.] To study by candlelight or a lamp; to study by night.

"to work at night," 1620s, from Latin lucubratus, past participle of lucubrare "to work by lamplight" (see lucubration). Literally, "to work by artificial light," hence "to work laboriously."

vb. 1 (context rare English) To work diligently by artificial light; to study at night. 2 To work or write like a scholar.

v. add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; "She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation" [syn: elaborate, expatiate, exposit, enlarge, flesh out, expand, expound, dilate] [ant: abridge]