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.
Usage examples of "to explain away".
The testimony of these two latter men is very difficult either to explain or to explain away, but I cannot deal with this question here, but must refer the reader to a paper on the subject by Mr GASTON DE MENGEL, and the discussion thereon, published in vol.
The military entered the war believing that was impossible, and ended the war unable to explain away such losses except as Human treachery or luck.