clarify English · revision 15534

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1325|origins=la clārus, la faciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈklæɹ.ɪ.faɪ/, /ˈklæɹ.ə.faɪ/; /ˈklɛɹ.ɪ.faɪ/, /ˈklɛɹ.ə.faɪ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|clarifien]], [[bor|fro|clarifier]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-lat|clārificō|t=to make clear; to glorify]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|clārificus|t=brilliant]], from [[m|la|clārus|t=clear]] (see [[clear]]) and the root of [[m|la|faciō|t=to make]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To make illustrious or glorious, make known: before 1325 in Barnhart, the early 14th century in Etymonline, a sense now obsolete.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To make clear and pure, especially of liquids such as liquors, is from the early 15th century (about 1430).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) To light up or brighten is from 1398.^(OED 1989) To clear the mind of error is from 1642,^(OED 1989) and the figurative sense, to free a subject from obscurity, make intelligible, from 1823.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The New Oxford notes an early sense, to set forth clearly.^(NODE 1998) Clarification is from 1612.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1325 – to glorify.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1398 – to illumine.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – to purify a liquid.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1612 – clarification.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1823 – to make intelligible.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make clear or easier to understand; to [[elucidate]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To remove confusion or uncertainty from.^(AHD)

+ # To make a liquid or [[butter]] clear by removing impurities, especially by heating.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[clarification]]

+ * [[clarifier]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[clear]]

+ * [[clarity]]

+ * [[claret]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Suffolk dialect to clarify meant to disinfect or purify, as after measles.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}