explicatory

adjective

ex·​pli·​ca·​to·​ry ek-ˈspli-kə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce explicatory (audio) ˈek-(ˌ)spli- How to pronounce explicatory (audio)

Examples of explicatory in a Sentence

most of the medical film's voice-over narration consists of explicatory remarks on the images being shown
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Reichardt has no interest in the kind of conventional storytelling that requires clues and revelations building to an explicatory conclusion. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin explicātōrius, from Latin explicāre "to free from folds or creases, unroll, spread out, set out in words" + -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix originally forming derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor — more at explicate

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of explicatory was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near explicatory

Cite this Entry

“Explicatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explicatory. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!