explano Latin · revision 3795
15 Oct 2026, 20:26 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Terence|origins=ine-pro *pleh₂-}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ɛkˈspɫaː.noː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ekˈsplaː.no]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''explānō''' (present infinitive explānāre, perfect active explānāvī, supine explānātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is formed from [[ex-]] and [[planus|alt=plānus]] “level, flat” with the verb ending [[m|la|-ō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''Plānus'' is [[m|itc-pro|*plāno-]], from [[ine-pro|*pl(e)h₂-nó-|t=flattened]].^(de Vaan 2008)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Terence has “tell me, who is this man you say was your friend?”^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ Its literal sense, to spread out flat, is found in Pliny, of cork bark spreading out ten feet on every side.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its usual sense was to make clear, expound or explain, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It also meant to utter distinctly, as Seneca's speech of broken, indistinct words.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ Italian kept the literal sense in [[m|it|spianare]].^(Wiktionary) English ''explain'' was borrowed in the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it in the sense “to explain”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of explaining.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of spreading out flat.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * early 15th century – English ''explain'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Verb===
+ # To spread out flat, [[m|en|flatten]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # To make clear, [[m|en|explain]], expound.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # To utter distinctly.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[explānābilis]]
+ * [[explānātiō]]
+ * [[explānātor]]
+ * [[inexplānātus]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[planus]]
+ * [[en|explain]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}