What does explicō mean in Latin?

explicō, a verb, means “to unfold, unfurl, uncoil, loosen, undo; to spread out, stretch out, extend, display, deploy; to disentangle, solve, settle, arrange, regulate, adjust”.

What are the principal parts of explicō?

explicō, explicāre, explicāvī, explicātum (first conjugation).

How do you pronounce explicō?

In classical Latin, [ˈɛk.splɪ.koː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈɛk.spli.ko].

Where does explicō come from?

Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰ → Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰs → Proto-Italic *eks → Latin explicō.

Which English words come from explicō?

English words that go back to Latin explicō include exploitation, explicit, explicate, explicans, explicable and explication.

verbfirst conjugation

explicō

explicō (present infinitive explicāre, perfect active explicāvī or explicuī, supine explicātum or explicitum)

Classical[ˈɛk.splɪ.koː]Ecclesiastical[ˈɛk.spli.ko]

Meaning

to unfold, unfurl, uncoil, loosen, undo
to spread out, stretch out, extend, display, deploy
to disentangle, solve, settle, arrange, regulate, adjust
to develop, set forth, exhibit
to explain

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

ad fīnem ēvolūtus

explicitus -a -um — in IVLIANVS I: Gallia, ch. 22

in ōrdinem extendō

explicō -āre — in IVLIANVS III: Persia, ch. 11

apertē expōnō, solvō

explicō -āre — in Evangelium secundum Marcum, ch. 6

unfold; explain

explicō -āre — in De Bello Gallico III

Conjugation conjugation 1

active indicative
form	present	imperfect	future	perfect	pluperfect	fut. perfect
1st sg.	explicō	explicābam	explicābō	explicāvī explicuī	explicāveram explicueram	explicāverō explicuerō, explicārō
2nd sg.	explicās	explicābās	explicābis	explicāvistī explicuistī, explicāstī	explicāverās explicuerās, explicārās	explicāveris explicueris
3rd sg.	explicat	explicābat	explicābit	explicāvit explicuit	explicāverat explicuerat, explicārat	explicāverit explicuerit, explicārit
1st pl.	explicāmus	explicābāmus	explicābimus	explicāvimus explicuimus	explicāverāmus explicuerāmus	explicāverimus explicuerimus, explicārimus
2nd pl.	explicātis	explicābātis	explicābitis	explicāvistis explicuistis, explicāstis	explicāverātis explicuerātis, explicārātis	explicāveritis explicueritis, explicāritis
3rd pl.	explicant	explicābant	explicābunt	explicāvērunt explicāvēre, explicuērunt, explicuēre, explicārunt	explicāverant explicuerant, explicārant	explicāverint explicuerint, explicārint

active subjunctive

active subjunctive
form	present	imperfect	perfect	pluperfect
1st sg.	explicem	explicārem	explicāverim explicuerim, explicārim	explicāvissem explicuissem, explicāssem
2nd sg.	explicēs	explicārēs	explicāverīs explicuerīs	explicāvissēs explicuissēs, explicāssēs
3rd sg.	explicet	explicāret	explicāverit explicuerit, explicārit	explicāvisset explicuisset, explicāsset
1st pl.	explicēmus	explicārēmus	explicāverīmus explicuerīmus, explicārīmus	explicāvissēmus explicuissēmus, explicāssēmus
2nd pl.	explicētis	explicārētis	explicāverītis explicuerītis, explicārītis	explicāvissētis explicuissētis, explicāssētis
3rd pl.	explicent	explicārent	explicāverint explicuerint, explicārint	explicāvissent explicuissent, explicāssent

passive indicative

passive indicative
form	present	imperfect	future
1st sg.	explicor	explicābar	explicābor
2nd sg.	explicāris explicāre	explicābāris explicābāre	explicāberis explicābere
3rd sg.	explicātur	explicābātur	explicābitur
1st pl.	explicāmur	explicābāmur	explicābimur
2nd pl.	explicāminī	explicābāminī	explicābiminī
3rd pl.	explicantur	explicābantur	explicābuntur

passive subjunctive

passive subjunctive
form	present	imperfect
1st sg.	explicer	explicārer
2nd sg.	explicēris explicēre	explicārēris explicārēre
3rd sg.	explicētur	explicārētur
1st pl.	explicēmur	explicārēmur
2nd pl.	explicēminī	explicārēminī
3rd pl.	explicentur	explicārentur

imperative

imperative
form	active	passive
pres. 2nd sg.	explicā	explicāre
pres. 2nd pl.	explicāte	explicāminī
fut. 2nd sg.	explicātō	explicātor
fut. 3rd sg.	explicātō	explicātor
fut. 2nd pl.	explicātōte	—
fut. 3rd pl.	explicantō	explicantor

infinitives & participles

infinitives & participles
form	active	passive
present infinitive	explicāre	explicārī
perfect infinitive	explicāvisse explicuisse, explicāsse	explicātum esse explicitum esse
future infinitive	explicātūrum esse explicitūrum esse	explicātum īrī explicitum īrī
present participle	explicāns explicante, explicantem, explicantēs, explicantī, explicantia, explicantibus, explicantis, explicantīs, explicantium	—
perfect participle	—	explicātus explicitus, explicāta, explicātā, explicātae, explicātam, explicātārum, explicātās, explicātī, explicātōrum, explicātōs
future participle	explicātūrus explicitūrus, explicātūra, explicātūrā, explicātūrae, explicātūram, explicātūrārum, explicātūrās, explicātūre, explicātūrī, explicātūrīs, explicātūrō, explicātūrōrum, explicātūrōs, explicātūrum, explicitūra, explicitūrā, explicitūrae, explicitūram, explicitūrārum, explicitūrās, explicitūre, explicitūrī, explicitūrīs, explicitūrō, explicitūrōrum, explicitūrōs, explicitūrum	explicandus

gerundexplicandī, explicandō, explicandumsupineexplicātum, explicātū

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

volumen explicare: to open a book.
aciem explicare or dilatare: to extend the line of battle, deploy the battalions.
breviter, paucis explicare aliquid: to explain a matter briefly, in a few words (not paucis verbis).
sententias (verbis) explicare, aperire: to explain one's sentiments.
scholas habere, explicare (Fin. 2. 1. 1): to give lectures.
pluribus verbis, copiosius explicare, persequi aliquid: to give a full, detailed account of a thing.

ex-plĭco, āvi and ŭi (the latter first in Verg. G. 2, 280; afterwards freq.; Hor. C. 3, 29, 16; 4, 9, 44; id. S. 2, 2, 125; Liv. 7, 23, 6 et saep.; cf. Gell. 1, 7, 20), ātum or ĭtum (Cic. uses mostly atum, Caes. atum and itum; cf.

I. explicaturos, Caes. B. C. 1, 78, 4; with explicitis, id. ib. 3, 75, 2; and, explicitius, id. ib. 1, 78, 2; upon these forms v. Neue, Formenl. 2, pp. 479 sq., 550 sq.), 1, v. a., to unfold, uncoil, unroll, unfurl, spread out, loosen, undo (class.; esp. freq. in the trop. sense; syn.: expedio, extrico, enodo, enucleo; explano, expono, interpretor).

I. Lit.: velum, Plaut. Mil. 4, 8, 7: non explicata veste neque proposito argento, etc., spread out, Cic. de Or. 1, 35, 161: volumen, to open, id. Rosc. Am. 35, 101: suas pennas (ales), Ov. Am. 2, 6, 55: plenas plagas, Mart. 1, 56, 8: perturbatum et confusum agmen, to put in order, Hirt. B. G. 8, 14, 2: capillum pectine, Varr. L. L. 5, § 129 Müll.: fusos, to unwind, Mart. 4, 54, 10: frontem sollicitam, to free from wrinkles, to smooth, Hor. C. 3, 29, 16; for which: explicare seria contractae frontis, id. S. 2, 2, 125; cf. mare, i. e. to calm, Sen. Herc. Oet. 455: si ex his te laqueis exueris ac te aliqua via ac ratione explicaris, hast extricated, freed thyself, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 58, § 151: se (ex funibus ancorarum), Dig. 9, 2, 29: inimicae et oves, difficile se (apibus) e lanis earum explicantibus, Plin. 11, 18, 19, § 62: se explicat angustum, Juv. 12, 55.—

B. Transf., to spread out, stretch out, extend, deploy, display: aciem, Liv. 7, 23, 6; 40, 4, 4; 40, 5, 26 al.; cf. ordinem, id. 2, 46, 3: agmen, id. 10, 20, 3: cohortes (longa legio), Verg. G. 2, 280: se turmatim (equites), Caes. B. C. 3, 93, 3; cf. mid.: priusquam plane legiones explicari et consistere possent, id. ib. 2, 26, 4; and: ut ordo omnium navium explicari posset, Liv. 37, 23, 10: per obstantis catervas Explicuit sua victor arma, Hor. C. 4, 9, 44: atria, congestos satis explicatura clientes, Stat. Th. 1, 146: ut forum laxaremus et usque ad atrium Libertatis explicaremus, extend, Cic. Att. 4, 16, 14; cf.: unde pons in oppidum pertinens explicatur, Sall. H. 3, 20: orbes (serpens), Ov. M. 15, 720: frondes omnes (pampinus), Verg. G. 2, 335: se (montes), Plin. 5, 29, 31, § 118: arida ligna in flammas (ignis), Lucr. 2, 882: convivium, i. e. to set out richly, to furnish, Mart. 1, 100, 13: explicavi meam rem post illa lucro, i. e. amplified, enlarged, Plaut. Poen. 3, 5, 5.

II. Trop.

A. In gen. (very seldom): explica atque excute intelligentiam tuam, ut videas quae sit, etc., display, Cic. Off. 3, 20, 81: Siciliam multis undique cinctam periculis explicavit, has set at large, set free (qs. released from toils, snares), id. de Imp. Pomp. 11, 30; cf.: quemadmodum se explicent dicendo, id. Fl. 4, 10: da operam, ut te explices, huc quam primum venias, Pompei. ap. Cic. Att. 8, 12, D. 2.—

B. In partic.

1. To disentangle, set in order, arrange, regulate, settle, adjust any thing complicated or difficult: pulcre ego hanc explicatam tibi rem dabo, Plaut. Ps. 4, 1, 20: peto a te, ut ejus negotia explices et expedias, Cic. Fam. 13, 26, 2: negotia, id. Att. 5, 12, 3; cf. id. ib. 16, 3, 5: belli rationem, id. Prov. Cons. 14, 35; cf.: rationem salutis, id. Fam. 6, 1, 2: rem frumentariam, Hirt. B. G. 8, 4 fin.: si Faberius nobis nomen illud explicat, noli quaerere, quanti, settles, i. e. pays that item, Cic. Att. 13, 29, 2: Faberianum, id. ib. § 3; cf.: si qui debitores, quia non possint explicare pecuniam, differant solutionem, Dig. 42, 1, 31: consilium, Caes. B. C. 1, 78, 4; cf.: his explicitis rebus, id. ib. 3, 75, 2: subvenire tempestati quavis ratione sapientis est; eoque magis, si plus adipiscare re explicatā boni, quam addubitatā mali, Cic. Off. 1, 24, 83: ea, quae per defunctum inchoata sunt, per heredem explicari debent, Dig. 27, 7, 1: transii ad elegos: hos quoque feliciter explicui, Plin. Ep. 7, 4, 7 (cf. under !*?): iter commode explicui, excepto quod, etc., Plin. Ep. 8, 1, 1: fugam, Phaedr. 4, 7, 15: nihilo plus explicet ac si Insanire paret, etc., will make no more out of it, Hor. S. 2, 3, 270.—

2. Of speech, to develop, unfold, set forth, exhibit, treat, state: vitam alterius totam explicare,Cic. Div. in Caecil. 8, 27: perfice, ut Crassus haec, quae coartavit et peranguste refersit in oratione sua, dilatet nobis atque explicet, id. de Or. 1, 35, 163: explicando excutiendoque verbo, id. Part. Or. 36, 124: aliquid expedite, id. Brut. 67, 237: aliquid apertissime planissimeque, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 64, § 156: aliquid definitione, id. Fin. 3, 10, 33: funera fando, Verg. A. 2, 362: philosophiam, Cic. Div. 2, 2, 6; cf.: philosophiam diligentissime Graecis litteris, id. Ac. 1, 2, 4: summorum oratorum Graecas orationes, id. de Or. 1, 34, 155: geometricum quiddam aut physicum aut dialecticum (corresp. to expedire), id. Div. 2, 59, 122: non de aegritudine solum, sed de omni animi perturbatione explicabo, id. Tusc. 3, 6, 13: de scorpionibus et catapultis, Vitr. 10, 22: ut explicemus, quae sint materiae, etc., Quint. 10, 5, 1.—Pass. impers.: quae vero auxilia sunt capitis, eo loco explicitum est, Cels. 4, 2.—Hence,

1. explĭcātus, a, um, P. a.

A. Lit., spread out: Capua planissimo in loco explicata, Cic. Agr. 2, 35, 96: vallis, Pall. Aug. 11, 2.—

B. Trop.

1. Well ordered, regular: in causa facili atque explicata, Cic. Planc. 2, 5.—

2. Plain, clear: nisi explicata solutione non sum discessurus, Cic. Att. 15, 20, 4.—Comp.: litterae tuae, quibus nihil potest esse explicatius, nihil perfectius, Cic. Att. 9, 7, 2.— Sup.: explicatissima responsa, Aug. Ep. 34 fin.—

3. Assured, certain: nec habet explicatam aut exploratam rationem salutis suae, Cic. Fam. 6, 1, 2.—* Adv.: explĭ-cāte, plainly, clearly: qui distincte, qui explicate, qui abundanter et rebus et verbis dicunt, Cic. de Or. 3, 14, 53.—Comp.: explicatius, August. Civ. D. 19, 4.—

2. explĭ-cĭtus, a, um, P. a. (acc. to II. B. 1.), lit., disentangled, i. e. free from obstacles, easy: in his erat angustiis res: sed ex propositis consiliis duobus explicitius videbatur, Ilerdam reverti, Caes. B. C. 1, 78, 2.!*? explĭcit, in late Lat., at the end of a book, is prob. an abbreviation of explicitus (est liber), the book is ended (acc. to signif. II. B. 1.); cf.: explicitum nobis usque ad sua cornua librum refers, Mart. 11, 107, 1: solemus completis opusculis ad distinctionem rei alterius sequentis medium interponere Explicit aut Feliciter aut aliquid istius modi, Hier. Ep. 28, 4.

Origins

Proto-Indo-European*h₁éǵʰ
Proto-Indo-European*h₁éǵʰs
Proto-Italic*eks
Latinexplicō

Latin ex- Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ-der. Latin plicō Latin explicō From ex- + plicō (“to fold”).

Elsewhere

Frenchéployer
Italianspiegare
Germanexplizieren
Catalanexplicar
Englishexplicate
Frenchexpliquer
Occitanexplicar
Portugueseexplicar
Romanianexplica
Spanishexplicar

→ Norwegian

Norwegian Bokmålexplicere
Norwegian Nynorskexplicere

In English words that came into English from explicō

exploitationexplicō
explicitexplicitus
inexplicableinexplicābilis
explicateexplicō
explicableexplicabilis
explicationexplicatio
explicativeexplicātīvus
explicatoryexplicātōrius
explicansexplicāns

Meaning

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Conjugation conjugation 1

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

Lewis & Short 1879Elementary Lewis 1890

Origins

In English words that came into English from explicō

Related words

Quick answers