The Collaborative International Dictionary
Explain \Ex*plain"\ ([e^]ks*pl[=a]n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Explained([e^]ks*pl[=a]nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Explaining.] [L. explandare to flatten, spread out, explain; ex out + plandare to make level or plain, planus plain: cf. OF. esplaner, explaner. See Plain,a., and cf. Esplanade.]
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To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand. [Obs.]
The horse-chestnut is . . . ready to explain its leaf.
--Evelyn. -
To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to expound; to unfold and illustrate the meaning of; as, to explain a chapter of the Bible.
Commentators to explain the difficult passages to you.
--Gay.To explain away, to get rid of by explanation. ``Those explain the meaning quite away.''
--Pope.Syn: To expound; interpret; elucidate; clear up.
Wiktionary
n. explanation vb. (present participle of explain English)
Usage examples of "explaining".
They returned very shortly with two women in the direction of the city, saying that Peterson had refused them admittance, explaining that Chatterford had emigrated, and these more sensible women had begged transportation into London.
Grak himself was still talking to the foot guards, hurriedly explaining the presence of the foreigners.
Ty was explaining the rotation of the habitat, he detected my wandering attention.
It makes a certain amount of sense, but falls far short of explaining everything.
I saw the starry scene that Laurie described: the Milky Way from outside, George, with Louise explaining the view.
They will spend tonight and tomorrow night with you, explaining to anyone who is curious, then on Monday, the twentieth, they and as many as they can persuade will return to Joy Hall by the direct gate.
She complained of hunger and thirst, which resulted in her transfer to the blue where Xaefyer relished explaining the nipples.
He displayed a continuing erection which George estimated must exceed a foot in length, thus explaining his ability to exhibit such persistence.
George gestured for them to follow the steep path around to the front drive, explaining that the side doors were already locked.
He is just now explaining to Cathy that a retriever came through a gate he never knew existed and fetched him to her.
From inside the folds of his voluminous robes he produced parchment and ink, then set about writing a short note explaining that he was going to return to the merchant caravan and escort them to Palmaris.
He went to his room early, explaining that he was weary from the ride, a perfectly plausible excuse.
He quietly closed the inner doors then, explaining that the draft would be felt deep into the abbey if the corridor were left open to the sea.
Jojonah, explaining that they should put up some blocking magic to defeat any magical attempts to find them.
Walking, Jenny began explaining the details inspiring her to write a book about alien encounters.